Moon Raiders.

Wandering...

There was a huge ruckus in the palace as the warriors were sent out of the palace to look at every nook and cranny to find Aurelia.

"Have you checked everywhere? What do you mean you couldn't find her body?!"

"No river connects to that water your majesty. It... I'm afraid this only leads to one answer." Mason spoke with his head bowed.

"That's impossible! The stories of the moon raiders are just folktales. The moon raiders does not exist. They all died decades ago!" King Almanta exclaimed and suddenly held his chest coughing and breathing fast and before they knew it, he collapsed.

"My lord!" Queen Mother said rushing to him together with Raymond and Mason.

"Quick! Call the royal physician!" Raymond assigned.

***

Mason was seen walking by the passageway when Audrey rushed to him.

"Have you found anything yet?" Audrey asked and Mason shook his head sorrowfully. Obviously he was disappointed in himself for being so helpless in this kind of situation. He didn't want to believe Aurelia was actually dead, he knew there was more to how it seemed.

"Where is Paisley?" Mason asked.

"With the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother seems to be in a lot of distress after Aurelia went missing and also with the King's health."

"And Raymond?"

"He's locked up in his room. He feels he's responsible for everything."

"You should go stay with him Audrey, he shouldn't be left alone so he doesn't attempt anything foolish. We will be going round the kingdom tonight, we can't wait till dusk." He said and she nodded watching him leave. She could still feel fear, she tried so hard to remain positive and she hoped Aurelia would return safe. She could only wonder how Mason stayed strong, she knew he hurt more than any of them but he always tried to remain strong just to give everyone hope and faith.

She walked towards Raymond's court and slowly knocked.

"Prince Raymond, it is I Audrey, please grant my entrance."

The door immediately opened and Audrey stood speechless seeing his court all scattered. She watched him sit on his bed helplessly.

"Please tell me she has been found." he said and she exhaled deeply.

"You are the crowned Prince of Anastasia, you have to encourage yourself." She said and he stared up at her.

"Crowned Prince? I couldn't even save the Princess of this kingdom. I just wish this was all a bad dream Audrey, I can't take this guilt."

"This is not anything natural. No one is actually sure that the Moon raiders are involved in this and no one can also point you guilty. The King is depressed, at this moment and you are meant to assume every responsibility and figure out the mystery of all this. Sitting back won't solve anything, do the best you can do while there is still time to spare." She said and he went quiet for a while.

"Gather the cabinet members to the palace court." Raymond said standing up and she smiled helping him put on his robe.

"Are the guards surrounding the palace?" he asked.

"No, they all went in search of Aurelia."

"That's a risky step. This may be a distraction to call everyone out of the palace. Inform Mason to send back some warriors to guard the palace in case we receive any attack. This might be an enemy trying to make us believe it's the Moon raiders."

"Yes Prince Raymond." She said bowing.

"Thank you." he said as she was about to leave and she smiled leaving.

***

In the morning,

A desert was shown. Snow fell covering the pathway. Suddenly, there was a shaking in the snow heap and then a sneeze revealing Aurelia who opened her eyes weakly. She could feel the cold freezing up her skin as she rubbed her palms together.

"Why is there so much co..." She paused amidst her statement realizing she wasn't where she thought she was.

"Where... Where is this place?" She muttered looking around to also realize she was wearing a garment made with leaves.

She rubbed her eyes hoping it was all a dream but it appeared like reality.

All she could remember was that she was celebrating the coming of a new year like every one else and then... She paused realizing she had fallen over a cliff. She thought she was going to die. She tried swimming out but the water sucked her in like a tornado. What she couldn't understand was how she got there and why she was dressed with leaves.

She felt her feet shake in terror at the reality of the situation. She had thought she was in heaven but it appeared she was out in the middle of nowhere. She shivered with her teeth gritting, she was already catching a cold. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked around wondering the next step to take. She couldn't call out to anybody not even Mason, like she always did. Now it was her fight alone and she scared on getting on such a journey without anyone by her side, she didn't have that much courage. She sat down helplessly clustering her legs and hands together against the cold closing her eyes, wishing it was all a dream that she would wake up from.

***

Aurelia was seen walking sluggishly in the ground piled up in snow, she had to find a way out of this mysterious land even if she didn't know how.

As she walked further, she couldn't help but think of her people. Will they think she's dead? She couldn't even come up with a reasonable explanation for everything. She only hoped she doesn't encounter any problems on the way cause she didn't know what laid in stall for her at the other end. Suddenly her mind drifted back to the Sorcerer's words. Her deepest regret at that moment was going with Audrey and Paisley to the Sorcerer's tower. Ever since she came in contact with that place, it felt like her being changed from being what it was, yet she couldn't put together what he actually meant.

Trying to catch breath, she relaxed on the wall almost feeling her chest lock in the cold. She had to find shelter.

Suddenly, she felt the wall shook making her move away fearfully. Staring at the wall, she wiped off the snow away only to see a closed passage to a cave. She immediately used all her strength to push the obstruction that laid in her path.

Walking in with trepidation, she tried to picture everything around the cave but could barely see because of the darkness. Suddenly, the whole place lit up and she shivered.

"I how been waiting for you." An old man who sat on the floor spoke as he lit up a fireplace with the sticks he had gathered together.

"Who are you?" She questioned wondering what an old man will be doing in the middle of a desert.

"Shegra, the Guardian of the desert. " He responded and she scoffed.

"Guardian? A guardian can never be seen." She stated.

"You're not wrong but the question should be, why are you able to see me." He answered and she cruised her eyebrows.

"You know what? I think this is all a big dream and by the time I sleep and wake up, it will all gone. I usually have scary dreams like this since was a child, I want to believe this is no different." She said going to a corner and she laid down.

"You can't run away from it. You have done that for far too long." She paused as she heard him.

"Run away from what?" She inquired.

"The light will guide you." he responded and she sat up, turning to him.

"What do you mean by the light? You were sent by the Sorcerer weren't you?"

he smiled slyly.

"A saviour has to pay the sacrifice for the others. This is the sacrifice you have to pay."

"I don't understand what you are talking about! Can you please tell me what's going on?! I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere without my family. All I just want is to be with them." she exclaimed and started sobbing.

"Nothing will change, it's not even in my power to do so. It has to be accomplished or the whole kingdoms will be affected, not even your own family will be left out." he responded.

"Then what do I have to do to get out of here?" She asked.

"Once you accept your fate, only then shall you find the way."

"And what is my fate?" She asked.

"I have been waiting in here for a decade because the prophecy has to be fulfilled."

"But I don't understand anything." She responded and he waved his hand on the air creating an invisible mist which revealed dark powers. They tried to push through to find where it was, where the light was hidden. She felt fear creep in her heart as she saw this.

"What is that?"

"The dark world, it will soon find what they seek, and when it finds it, the whole kingdom will depend on it." he replied.

"And what do they seek?"

"That's enough now, go to sleep." he spoke. Immediately, she fell to the the ground falling fast asleep. Sensing danger, he shielded the entrance of the cave with an invisible force stopping the wild intruders from getting in.

Walking to Aurelia, he crouched before her and rubbed her forehead. A mark immediately appeared on her.

"This is all I can do, I can only protect you while you're in my territory but I'm afraid you will have to stand up for yourself after that." he muttered.

***

It was night,

Raymond staggered into his courtyard. It was obvious he was getting choked with the whole situation.

Audrey and Paisley immediately rushed to him.

"What happened?" Audrey asked and he shook his head.

"They have searched all round the kingdom but she's still yet to be seen." he answered. Paisley swallowed hard, the night felt like a t*****e to everybody. Despite how irresponsible Aurelia was as a Princess, she appeared great before the villagers. Not even one person could tell the mystery of what really happened.

"I'll go be with the queen." Paisley said and walked out. Audrey swallowed hard speechless, she had encouraged him earlier to stand up to his responsibilities and now he did, she regretted that the advice had to come from her because he looked ruined.

Just as she was about to also leave, he spoke.

"Please stay with me tonight." he pleaded and she turned to him.

"I'm... I'm sorry I can't do anything to help." she spoke.

"Your support is all I need, it's all we need." he answered and she sniffed.

They both walked to his court where she prepared his bed for him to lie. Just as he laid down, she went to heat up the fire place. He tapped on the bed beside him as soon as she was done.

"I'm only a messenger Prince Raymond, I can't sleep on the same bed with you."

"Says who? If you really want to make things formal, then it's an order." he stated and she exhaled deeply.

She sat on the bed not feeling comfortable to lie down and she made sure she was far away from him. Yet, he still drew closer to her laying his head on her thighs.

"I feel at peace whenever I'm with you, it makes me always think everything will be fine. Don't ever classify yourself when we're together cause that doesn't matter to me." he said and she rubbed his hair comfortingly. She relaxed her head on the headboard as she closed her eyes.

"Things will surely verbal to normal." she muttered not knowing if she was trying to encourage him or convince herself.

******

A dark room was shown. Aurelia walked cautiously inside trying to figure out how she got there.

Suddenly, a bright light appeared before her.

"Behind the light... behind the light." A voice spoke and her pupil immediately disappeared turning her eyes pure white. Feeling hypnotized, her feet moved towards the light. Just as she got closer to it, a force immediately pushed her backwards like a lightning into the dark where she was surrounded by dark powers. They fought to attack her but something kept them away, the mark. She appeared very scared, as she stared at the aggressive force. She started panting, and her hands began to glow but it was still weak. How will she get out of here? She thought.