Chapter Text
“This.. is the story of how I died.
But, don’t worry! This actually a very fun story, and the truth is, it isn’t even mine.
This is the story of a boy, named David.
And it starts with the sun.”
ONCE UPON A TIME, a single drop of sunlight fell from the heavens, and from this small drop of sun, grew a flower. A golden flower, with an ability to heal the sick and injured that could only be linked to the mysterious deities of the earth.
Few believed in this flower, calling it a myth or folklore meant to bring hope to the people. Some searched for it, but it remained lost; an elusive challenge for those brave enough to go looking. To most, the location of this flower didn’t matter. Until, the Queen of Corona got sick.
Centuries passed, and a hop, skip and a boat ride away, there grew a kingdom. The Kingdom was ruled by a beloved Queen (and her husband), a woman called Christine, who had charmed the people since birth with her kind heart and warm smile. The news of her pregnancy had brought great joy to the kingdom, being passed from mouth to ear at a rapid pace. Parties were thrown and drinks were shared, everyone excited for the birth of their future ruler. The news of the Queens sickness, however, broke even that record. It dulled smiles and broke hearts, fear and dismay invading a place that was joyful not even days before.
The sickness was one that none of the royal doctors had ever dealt with, spreading through her bloodstream at a frightening speed. It was believed to be a work of poison, but the poison in question was unknown to all, but one. The King, William, had married into the family after visiting the kingdom for Christine’s 18th Birthday. He was the son of a Duke, and although wealthy and powerful, he had always longed for more. Seeing his chance, he had swooped in and charmed the young princess with fanciful words and promises of a life full of love and affection. She had believed him and fell deeply in-love with the fabricated persona, marrying him and then later taking the throne with him. All seemed to be well, but William grew frustrated. He did not need a wife, or a family. Did not what them.
Desperate for change and more power, he had planted a rare poison taken from a witch into the Queen’s goblet in hopes that it would kill her and the unborn child. Then, pretending to be stricken with fear for his wife’s life, the King had called for a search for the magic, golden flower, believing it to be nothing but a fantasy that would lead the distraught kingdom astray.
The search for the mythical flower was immediately accepted and begun. Men and women; old and young spread out, sailing to far-off mountains and trudging through shadowed forests in search of a miracle that would save their Queen and the unborn baby inside. The search parties were massive, it was larger than any other search for the flower. It appeared almost inevitable that, if said flower existed, it would be found.
And it was.
At the bottom of a low cliff, the golden flower grew. It’s luminous petals and soft glow made it easy to spot by the eye, and the group of Guards sent out as part of the search smiled, eyes aglow with exhaustion and relief.
“We’ve found it!”
The magic of the golden flower healed the queen, and a healthy set of twins, a princess and prince, were born. The girl had her father’s bright red hair, but her eyes were the same soft blue as her mother. She was named Brenda. The boy, on the other hand, was born with beautiful, golden hair. A gold so unnatural, and different from his mother’s more platinum blonde, that it was clear he had been given a gift from the flower. He was named David. To celebrate their birth, the Queen launched a flying lantern into the sky.
The King, on the other hand, was bitter about his failed plot and burdened with two children who he bore no love for. He appeared disinterested to those who inhabited the castle, mulling inside his chancery more often than not. The only thing that grabbed his interest, was the magical abilities of his son. It was found that David indeed had a gift from the flower, a gift of healing. A gift that would bring him his youth.
The Guards, suspicious of the King and his disinterest in his daughter, who received no gift, searched the chancery and found hidden plots. They planned to bring them to the Queen and arrest the King, but he had seen them through the slightly-cracked-open door and he made his escape.
But not before taking his son, with him.
The Kingdom searched and searched, but they could not find the King or Prince. For deep within the forest, in a hidden tower, the boy was raised alone.
William devoured books on the magic of the golden flower, using the knowledge to fully unlock the Prince’s gifts and gain back his youth. He raised David to fear the outside world, trapping him inside the tower where he would remain for 18 years. Where he would remain feeling unloved and used, unaware of the Kingdom who loved him and released thousands of lanterns into the sky, every year of his birthday, in hopes of his return.
As for Brenda, the child who was left behind, she would grow into a powerful woman (although without a magical gift) with a passion for crime fighting. Every year, on her birthday, she would watch the Kingdom grieve for the brother she never got to know. Every year, on her birthday, her determination to find the prince, would grow stronger. This passion and determination would lead her to train and take her place among the royal guard, the youngest one there. It was not easy, for they did not respect her easily; she was a woman and a princess, and that meant big things to everyone around her apparently, but she was not deterred. With support from the Queen, she grew to be one of the best, though the rest would never admit it.
She would dress in the armor every morning, hope glinting in those soft blue eyes. Hope that she would be the one to find her brother.