Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was a beautiful day. Winter had long since given up its throne to Spring, and life was slowly returning to the land. Shy buds dotted the branches of the great trees that bordered the kingdom, and the birds’ happy song seemed to fill the air even before they made their appearances. Spring had finally blossomed, and soon the land would be celebrating their prince’s twelfth birthday. It was truly a wonderful day.

Prince Cedric was well-loved, and preparations for this special day could not be more enthusiastic. In fact, it wouldn’t have been surprising if the commoners were more excited about the birthday than the prince himself. However, no one could have been more enthused than his younger sister, the Princess Ponderosa. She had taken great pains to hide her gift from him until this day and, in her excitement, had nearly given herself away on more than one occasion. The young girl seemed to be bursting with the secret.

In the meantime, to ensure that her brother did not discover her present early, Ponderosa had left it in the care of a trusted friend. In fact, the princess was now on her way to retrieve her parcel. The healer woman she had left it with lived on the outskirts of the village, just outside the border that separated the forest from the rest of the town. As a direct result of that, there were various bits of twig and bramble clinging to her dress by the time she arrived at her destination.

“I can’t believe I forgot to get it this morning,” she wailed in dismay. “I’m going to be late, I know it!” Ponderosa swiped a hand across her dress in one last futile attempt to make herself look a little more presentable. She didn’t know why she bothered; she was only going to have to trek back through the forest again anyway.

“My, princess,” came a voice from a nearby window. “My ears must be failing me in my old age.” The girl looked up and saw a familiar face. A kindly old woman with a twinkle in her eye was smiling down at her. “I thought you were planning to come earlier.”

Ponderosa stamped her foot in mock annoyance. “Madame Flowerwood! I overslept!” The woman laughed lightly and left her window. In a few moments, the doorknob in front of Ponderosa rattled and the door opened. “Please come in. I had warm cookies for you, but I’m afraid they’re quite cold now.”

“Thank you so much, but I really don’t have time,” the young girl said anxiously. “I need to be back in a few moments before they notice I’m not there.”

“Well, then, take them with you,” Madame Flowerwood said amiably. “You can share them with your brother later. Your parcel is over there.”

“Thank you so much,” the princess said as she followed the older woman’s pointing finger to a long packaged bundle on a nightstand. Grabbing it, she left the Madame’s house.

However, it seemed the young girl’s absence had already been noted. “Ponderosa!” a voice called out. The princess’ eyes widened as she swept the present behind her back. Her brother and a redheaded companion were heading down the path towards her. “I had thought you would be here,” Cedric said, smiling when he reached her. “Father is becoming worried.”

“Ah! Yes! I was just about to go back!” the princess squeaked. Her brother raised an eyebrow about her apparent nervousness, but said nothing.

“Well, now that we have our princess, let’s get going,” the redheaded boy accompanying him suggested with a grin. “I know my dad will have my head if we don’t get back soon.” Though the boy’s smile suggested he was joking, his bright hair color gave away his heritage. The king’s captain of the guard had the same flaming hair and his strictness was almost local legend.

“Red is right,” Cedric said, smiling at the thought. “Let us--” The prince’s words were suddenly cut off by an explosion. “What in heavens?!” He twisted around. Ponderosa screamed as Madame Flowerwood’s cottage was engulfed in flames. A wall collapsed, bringing down a good part of the roof. The princess lurched towards the house, but Cedric had managed to get a firm grip on her arm. “No! It’s too dangerous!”

“Madame Flowerwood is in there!” She yanked her arm free, throwing the gift and the basket of cookies to the ground before making a mad dash to the cottage. “Ponderosa!” Cedric threw a panicked glance back at Red. “Go get help!” The boy didn’t need to be told twice. The redhead sprinted back the way he had come.

Following Ponderosa, the prince reached the door, but had to dodge a flaming beam crashing down upon the door frame. “Ponderosa!” he called out frantically. There was no answer over the crackling flames. Running to a different side of the house, Cedric searched desperately for an alternative entrance.

“Your Highness!” Cedric turned quickly to find the source of the voice. A sooty figure was making its stumbling way out of the house. “Madame Flowerwood!” The prince rushed to help her out of harm’s way. “Did you see her? Where is my sister?”

The old woman gave him a stricken glance. “I did not see her, but there were fiends, monsters!” There was no need to say more.

Just then, Red returned with a brigade of soldiers. “We’ve got to put out the fire!” he shouted. But they were too late. Time seemed to stop. The burning house seemed to suck its flames back in for a moment before blasting outwards, sending splinters and embers shooting into the sky. The blackened remains of the house fell to ashes. Cedric felt as if a hot iron had been plunged into his heart.

“No...she can’t be...”

I thought so. My brain was going dead and couldn't think of other words. sweatdrop

But "The prince was well-loved" doesn't cut it?

Most of the story actually takes place outside the kingdom, with the setting returning to it near the end for the climax. The kingdom itself isn't really important to the story.

Also, the king himself happens to be a bit of a sop. sweatdrop The people may like the prince, but not necesarily the king.

Do you think it'd be okay just to leave the part you mentioned out?

I agree with the 'parcel' comment. It's hard to get around that sometimes though... reusing that same word. If you want us to be aware of her present and to keep it in out memories for later leave it alone. Otherwise, if you want us to forget about it, I woud find other words to use.