FSE

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We all have to take responsibility some point in our life. The ability to choose whether or not we should or shouldn't is something we take for granted for. There are those who do not have this choice or ability like Casey, our somewhat feisty Queen. Sadly it was too soon for her to rule this unusual land mixed with machines and stone, but she had no choice her childhood was taken the day she lost her parents to an ambush. The only reason Casey is still alive is due to her mother and father sacrificing their lives in order for the young Casey to escape. The ambusher's where never found. To this day, Queen Casey still mourns for her lost; yet, she still is able to not only rule the kingdom but hunt for her people as well.

***

We start off with our Queen Casey and her Royal Guard as they travel deeper into the woods looking for game. The guard began to feel a little concerned, "My queen we should be heading back now. We have enough game to feed an army." Casey replies, "Then go back and prepare them for I wish to roam a while." The guard not wanting to leave the queen alone out in the dark tries to convince her to return with him. Annoyed, Casey orders him to go back. "If you don't want to proceed then go back!" Casey shouted, her voice rising with indignation, "I will be fine on my own. I can look after myself." Seeing he has irritated her, the Royal Guard returns to the castle as Casey continues to go further into the forest.

***

Time has passed since they split and Casey allows her horse to drink as they rest by the river. About to go back, she feels as though someone is watching her "Hello? Who is there?" No answer. Figuring it is just her mind playing tricks, Casey mounts the horse, yet in the distance, black smoke is seen. Concerned, she rides off towards the source. Arriving at the scene, there is no sign of danger only a sloppy camp fire. Once the fire was out, Casey began to make her way back to the castle. In the corner of her eyes, she sees a shadowy figure. Quickly turning, she calls out, "Who are you?!" The shadowy figure begins to run. Casey went after it. The trees are so thick her horse could not go on any longer so, she continued by foot.

"I order you to stop!"

Laughter is heard then complete silence. Fear began to take a hold of the queen, alone and lost in the dark woods with nothing but a bow, a dagger, and now a stranger.

Walking aimlessly trying to find a way back to the castle, a mansion comes to view. In a sigh of relief, Casey made her way to the doors "Well it is not home but it will have to do for now." Opening the door, there is nothing but cobwebs and rats. "Disgusting!" About to double back out. A sack is quickly put over her head. Kicking and screaming, she can't escape. Soon, the sack is removed as she is pushed to the floor followed by a loud clank. Quickly getting on her feet, the queen runs to the bars. "How dare you lock me inside here! Release me at once or so help me!" threatens Casey. The man turns revealing a face so disfigured it silences her as she backs up to the wall, trying her best not to look. "W-what are you..?" The man sneers, "They used to call me king. Well... somewhat. The name's Max and by the looks of where you are, there is really nothing you can say or do to me." The queen, still disturbed, is able to find her voice again, "Why have you kidnapped me?" Rage fills Max as he responds with contempt, "Your parents are the ones who did this to me. They are the reason I am forced to live a life of isolation!" Casey looks up regaining her confidence and takes few steps closer to him. "So what you are going to kill me for revenge!?" Max chuckles, "That would be too easy. No, I need you. You have something I want!" She knows exactly what he's referring to, but decides to play the part of the fool to see what more he'll divulge, to take advantage of his rage. "I know nothing about a gem, but what I do know is I am getting out of here one way or another. Soon, my prince will send a party when he notices my absence!" She gives Max a cold stare. "It is true what they say about you," Max says as he opens the cell, "You can never be quiet." He grabs her as she screams and kicks but manages to restrain her, clamping a hand over her mouth to silence her.

***

As the day sets, the kingdom is on full alert, searching for the queen. Even the arrogant Prince Oscar himself is searching. "Of all the times in the world, this is the day she chooses to get lost. *sigh* At least in a few days, we will marry then I could care less of what happens to her." Continuing his search, a bright light blinds Oscar. Shielding his eyes, he notices an arrow and the tip of it points to something in the wood as if it means to lead him somewhere. Following the clue, he finds the queen's dagger and bow. Dismounting the horse, he investigates the area. "What would she be doing out here all alone?" Noticing some foot prints along the path, Oscar follows until he stumbles upon the mansion. "My queen are you hear?"

Inside the mansion, Max watches as Oscar makes his way to the door. "Ah, our guest has arrived. How I enjoy having company," Max snickers at Casey, who is struggling to remove the gag in her mouth. A knock echoes and the door swings open or inward? as Oscar makes his way in with sword drawn. "Casey?" The prince sees his queen tied up and runs to the bars, "Are you alright?" She shakes her head to warn him, but it is too late. Max appears out of the shadow and stabs Oscar, causing Casey to shriek in horror as she watches her beloved crumple to the floor/double over in pain. "How nice of you to join us," Max says, steeping over him to free Casey, untying her hands. She tries to fight him off but is too weak as the monster easily over powers her and drags her out of the cell. "Now if you want your prince to live, you will take me to the gem!" A tear escapes as she agrees, "Fine! I will take you to the gem! Just please allow me to mend his wound." Max grins, "Perfect and if you try anything funny I will end you and him both." Casey was able to temporarily heal him, but there is no way he will be able to walk in this condition, making Max have to carry him on his shoulder for extra leverage over Casey.

***

Making their way out with Oscar being carried and Casey tied by a rope to prevent her from running as she leads them to Max's prize, the queen speaks in annoyance,"Why are you so determined to have this gem anyway?" He ignores her question and shoves her forward, a clear sign that she should keep moving. Stubbornly, she stops waiting for her answer. "Keep moving," Max commands. She turns to face him, "Answer me! Why are you so determined to have this gem?" He sighs in disbelief. "That is really none of your business and I doubt you, me, nor the prince have the time for this." Casey looks at her prince as his condition seems worsening eather way she will not give up on him. They continue on as the sun begins to set. Casey leads them to a cave in the mountains before stopping again. She points to the entrance, "Through there you will find your prize, but we cannot go further."

"And why not?" asks Max, suspicion evident in his tone. "It is too dark. Once inside, you will easily get lost. Also by the look of the sun, we do not have much light. The entrance will not generate enough light for us to find our way back and even then if we do manage to find where the gem is hidden, there will be a cliff. The path is said to be so narrow that not even a child can walk across." Max puts the prince down and removes his robe revealing scares and bruises all across his back, picking up a stick "We still move forward, no matter what," Max says as he lights the torch and as he re-positions the prince over his shoulder as they continue into the cave.

Casey, feeling hopeless, desperately tries to find a way to escape, but with the rope around her, she cannot do much. Once arriving at the edge of the cliff, she asks Max to untie the rope, so they may pass it much quicker. "Alright, but if you try to fool me in any way, I'll make sure to drop you both into that dark abyss." Max unties the rope and pushes Casey foreward a little. "Well go on, we don't have all day...at least your precious prince doesn't." The queen presses forward not taking chances for now, especially with the prince's condition. Hugging the wall and moving slowly across the narrow path leading around/over the abyss, Casey sees a glow come into view up ahead. It is the gem. She turns to Max and points to it. "There it is. We are not that far." He stares at it with wonder and disbelief that in a mere matter of minutes, he will have his prize.

They make it down with hardly any struggles, Max wastes no time in going for the gem. "It is mine, ALL MINE HAHAHAHA!" Releasing the prince allowing the body to fall motionless, Max runs for the diamond/gem. Casey runs to her prince's side, knowing that he is still alive but not for long. "There you have what you wanted now let us go!" Her plea is cut short, for the gem was glowing brighter every moment Max held it. In a matter of seconds, Max is surrounded by a blue ring of lght? "What is happening?" the queen asks as she clings to the prince, watching in awe as the wind picks up, becoming more intense before she realizes Max is in the air shining. "You should enjoy this moment, Your Highness, for you are witnessing the resurrection of a king! HAHAH!" Max cackles. With that, he turns to ashes, leaving nothing but a pile in the center of the cave. The gem gently floats down on the tiny black hill. Casey smiles, assured his plan has failed, "Ha all this for nothing?"

Oscar groans as he regains consciousness. Casey hugs him close, realizing that not only was Max destroyed, but the event had also healed Oscar. "My prince are you okay?" she asks, just to be sure. "Yes, yes. I am okay, no thanks to you. Now, where is that brute? So I can teach him a lesson!" The queen points to the pile of ash. "He is no more. That is all that of him." The prince sighs in relief. "Let us leave here then," he says as they both stand and make their way out, but before they even get close to the edge, the ashes shake, the gem floats once more, picking up the ashes and swirling them around it. The prince and the queen turn to the sight. "This isn't possible!" exclaims Casey. Just then, an echo is heard as the black ashes take form. "Oh it is possible, for the king of thieves cannot be silenced!" Turning from black ashes to a human, the once disfigured looking monster is no more. In its place there is now an older looking gentlemen, who could easily pass for a nobleman. Casey drags the prince out of the cave, frightened by the sight of Max reborn. "Let us hurry!" As they make their way out, the cave begins to rumble. "We must move faster!" Careful not to slip and fall into the deep hole, they both make it out and not a moment too soon, as the cave entrance collapses shortly thereafter. "Y-you think he is actually dead this time?" Casey asks the prince, "No one can survive that!" he says as they walk to the castle. Yet the queen looks back, "For some reason, it feels as if it is not over," she says.