Kingdom Chronicles: Mayhem at Gizmo Tower

First Step

In another kingdom a letter reached the high gates. Upon reading the letter, a guard, with wide, fearful eyes ran through the palace to the throne room. “Your majesty! Your majesty! You must read this,” the guard gasped, clutching the letter in his hands. Sitting on his throne the king shot up from his seat as he read the letter. “Send this to the others, hurry!” The king ordered his best knight as she kneeled in front of him, “we are gonna need all the help we can get.”

Dani, taking a deep breath, enters the dark damp cave, with a small flashlight in hand. Pushing the vines and trudging through thick mud Dani made it to the other side, where she found herself in a large cavern. Dani’s footsteps echoed with each step she took, until she reached the abandoned church. Dani was amazed that such a structure was built in a cave.

“Hello,” Dani called out, “is anyone in there.” There was silence for the first minute, Dani was about to call again. “Welcome Dani, I have been expecting you,” said an elderly voice, “what can I help you with.” Looking at the hooded old man in front of her, Dani stepped closer, the old figure’s robe was tattered and dirty and the man looked like he hadn’t seen the sun in ages. “Are you the hermit of this cave?” She asks as she looks around to take in the mysterious surroundings. Shadows danced along the sandstone walls as the old man nodded, a gentle smile playing on his lips. “You can call me Artemis,” he said, giving a small bow.

“I have been having strange dreams,” Dani started, “I want to know what they mean.” Feigning ignorance Artemis rubs his chin, “dreams can be interpreted in many different ways, please tell me what they are about.” Dani starts telling Artemis about being in space surrounded by asteroids, the ancient ruins, the legendary sword, and the Hydra, hoping to hear an explanation to cure her sleepless nights.

After listening to Dani’s dreams, Artemis taps his cane. “Those dreams are very peculiar,” said Artemis, “they can only mean one thing.” Dani leaned in closer, “you are the next guardian of Destiny Island,” Artemis says in a calm tone. Silence, for the next three minutes it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Dani started to laugh, not a humorous one but robotic, the type of laugh you use when hearing a bad joke. “That’s funny, for a second I thought I heard you say that I’m the next guardian,” she replied. Artemis nodded with a smile on his face, “yes, yes you are.”

Struggling to comprehend what is happening Dani stuttered, “I, I, can’t possibly be the next guardian, only royalty can be guardians.” Dani paused, “if I’m a guardian, then I’m a….princess? " Artemis nodded solemnly, "Yes, indeed you are.”

“So my parents are the King and Queen?” Dani asked as her mind raced to piece together this new information. “Yes your parents are the king and queen, but the ones you live with are not your parents, they are special guards who were ordered to protect you as your parents,” Artemis explained. The feeling of betrayal overwhelmed Dani, after finding out her entire young life was a lie.

“Why?” Dani asked, “why was I made to be an ordinary person when I’m not?”

Before Artemis could answer a voice came from behind, “that would be because of the prophecy.” Surprised by the voice Dani spun around to find Ace walking in. “You knew too?” Dani asked, angrily pointing a finger at Ace, “is he a special guard as well?” Artemis nodded once more, confirming Ace's identity. Ace sighed deeply, acknowledging Dani's anger.

Ace and Artemis explained the prophecy proclaimed a female warrior from Destiny Isles will fight off the darkness to protect the Isles from certain doom. Putting his hand on her shoulders Ace comforts her, “I know that this is a lot for you to take in, but it’s the truth, something evil is coming and you have been chosen to protect our home.” Dani looks up at him and asks , “what is coming?”

Taking a long breath, Ace explains, “beyond our world there is darkness, this darkness wants to devour, not just our world but every world.” Artemis chimes in, “the creatures that serve this darkness are called Voidlings, nasty things but with training you will be able to defend our home from them.” Dani sighed feeling more tired than normal and as Ace carried her to the car she asks, “may I meet my parents?”

Artemis and Ace escort Dani to her beach home, Mallorie and James, in royal uniforms, were waiting outside, and the moment they spotted them they took a knee. “Welcome home your highness, we have dinner prepared for you,”said James. Taken aback by the change in tone Dani froze, noticing her reaction, Mallorie softly says, “come now, I cooked your favorite meal.” Ace watched as Dani entered her home leaving just him, Artemis, and James. “Make preparations for tomorrow, the princess would like to meet the king and queen,” Ace instructed James, who nodded in agreement.

After dinner Dani went straight to bed exhausted from the many revelations that had come to light. Dani once again was not able to sleep but instead of nightmares, it was the thought of meeting her real parents that frightens her. Dani awoke from her sleep to find Mallorie and James standing next to her bed.

"Good morning your majesty, it's time," Mallorie whispered gently, handing Dani a beautifully crafted gown fit for a princess. As Dani stepped out there was a black, heavily tinted, SUV car waiting for them. Dani hopped in, followed by Mallorie and James. “The majesty’s have been notified and they are waiting for your arrival,” said James professionally. Dani fidgeted with her dress, nervous and not used to the attention. Taking her hand in his, James kindly ensures, “you will be fine, your parents have always been watching you.” Dani gave a weak smile and stared out the open window.

After an hour of driving, the car stopped at a pair of large gates. With a swipe of his badge and a scan of his hand the gates opened and the driver continued up a long driveway that led to the palace. Dani gawked at the size of the palace, “this place is huge.” The palace looked like it came out of a fairytale. Stepping next to Dani, Mallorie smiled, “come now, your mother and father are waiting.”

Clutching her gown, Dani took a deep breath and stepped forward. The heavy wooden doors opened to reveal marble and gold heavily polished to the point you can see your reflection. Dani followed the guards in front of her, through the long halls,with Mallorie and James by her side.

They paused at a door laced with gold, a guard gave two heavy knocks and announced, “the princess has arrived.” It was silent for a few minutes, then a deep voice echoed from behind the door, “let the princess in.”