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Hark and hear my tale; the tragedy of young Seacaster and the fair lady with whom he fell in love!
In that charming city of Elmville did our protagonist live, alone with his widowed mother, Hallariel. It was the night of Fabian’s eighteenth birthday when she pulled him aside from his festivities and spoke to him in private.
“Fabian, my darling son, today you became a man!” she said after leaning in to kiss him on the cheek.
Fabian beamed. “Yes, Mamá.”
She reached out and tenderly touched her hand to his cheek. “But oh, I do so worry for you! You’re all grown up and it is time for you to settle down! No more of your running around on adventures or hanging out with your pirate friends! You need to manage your father’s riches responsibly, and I think the best way to do that is by getting married.”
“Married?? But Mamá-!”
“I won’t hear any argument! I am in charge of your inheritance, and you won’t get a copper unless you get married, do you understand? Now, tomorrow night I will be throwing a soirée and inviting the richest and most-connected families from all across the land so that you may find a partner among the suitors.”
Fabian hung his head. “Must I choose tomorrow night, Mamá? I want to marry for love, not money!”
“You shall be engaged tomorrow night and that is final,” she huffed, feeling agitated for having to raise her voice. She placed a hand against her chest, took a slow breath, and composed herself. “Now, return to your little birthday party and remember what I’ve told you, yes? Have a wonderful time and I shall see you tomorrow morning.”
Hallariel left the room, retiring to her chambers where she reclined in her sensory deprivation egg along with a glass of wine. Fabian returned to his party, but his heart weighed heavily in his chest. He felt unable to celebrate alongside his friends, and excused himself from the festivities, retreating to the garage where, mounting his motorcycle, he went for a ride.
Fabian loved riding his motorcycle; it was a fine machine, sleek and red, well-tuned and perfectly maintained, and capable of reaching speeds well over two hundred miles per hour. As he sped along the highway between Elmville and Ashgrove, he caught movement on the road up ahead. He slowed and noticed a herd of handsome highland cattle crossing the road from one meadow to another. One cow, however, seemed to be having trouble climbing over the barrier that bisected the highway, so he dismounted and helped the cow with crossing. Once she was over, the cow frolicked across the road and into the awaiting meadow where the rest of the herd was gathered beside a lake.
Just as Fabian was about to ride off, however, the lowing of the cattle drew his attention and he watched as ochre smoke surrounded the herd, transforming them into a family of minotaur. The one he had helped turned her head, revealing a cute young woman with wavy brown hair, a wide tan muzzle, and bright, sparkling eyes.
Enthralled, Fabian walked over to the group, mouth agape at the phenomenon that he had just witnessed. The cute minotaur trotted over and took his hand in hers.
“Hello, kind sir! Thank you so much for helping me cross the barrier! I was afraid I would not be able to and therefore unable to join my family here at the lake!”
“What’s going on? What does the lake have to do with anything?” he asked, bewildered.
She looked away sadly. “My family and I… are cursed. When I spurned the advances of the powerful sorcerer Stardiamond, he threatened to punish me, and when my family backed me up, he cursed us all to become cattle. He watches our every movement, and it is this enchanted lake of eternal springtime that allows us to take our original forms, but only at nighttime. During the day we are forced to graze in his fields as he taunts us with threats of slaughter!”
“What a tragedy!” lamented Fabian. “Is there no way to break the spell?”
“If one who has never loved before were to swear their love to me forever, the curse shall break and we shall all be free.”
As Fabian opened his mouth to reply to this, a crack of thunder sounded and dark smoke appeared beside the minotaur girl. When the smoke cleared, a handsome, blond elven man stood beside her.
“Mazey, what is this?” the man demanded.
“Stardiamond!” she gasped.
“What? This is the cur that has brought you such sorrow?” boomed Fabian. He reached for his sword that he kept by his side at all times and drew it. “I shall defeat you, you blaggard, and free this fair maiden from her curse!”
Stardiamond cackled. “Kill me and the girl shall be forever cursed!”
“Foul wretch! Begone with you!” shouted Fabian, raising a hand to strike the mage. With another puff of smoke Stardiamond vanished, leaving the two alone again.
Fabian turned his eyes back to the fetching young woman before him. “So… your name is Mazey? It’s a very pretty name. I’m Fabian.”
She smiled coquettishly and tucked a strand of hair behind a large ear.
“Fabian’s also a pretty name.” She glanced down shyly and noticed his footwear. “Oh, you’re wearing Badidas? So am I!” She turned around to show off her lavender Badidas tracksuit and pair of pink-and-white Badidas sneakers.
“It suits you,” he said with a smile, and he sat down in the meadow alongside her as they began to talk. Fabian found himself falling in love with the bright, sweet Mazey as they spent the night swapping jokes and talking. Unfortunately, the rays of the morning sun began to peek out over the distant Mountains of Chaos. Mazey bid him farewell with large, sad eyes, and as she walked back to her family beside the lake, Fabian called out:
“Tonight there is a party at my mansion! Come, and I can declare my love to you before all and we can be wed!” However, before she could reply, she and her family transformed back into cattle as the sky turned pink and orange with the sunrise.
As Fabian drove back home that morning, his thoughts were full of Mazey and her sweet smile – why, he nearly rear-ended another vehicle as he returned to Elmville, his mind was so distracted! Upon returning home he called up his closest friend, Riz, and, splayed out on his bed, he recounted the magical evening to him.
“She was so kind and adorable, Riz! She’s strong in body and spirit, having stood up to that terrible sorcerer, and she told me she loves to dance!”
“It sounds like a match made in Elysium,” said Riz.
Fabian sighed and stared up at his ceiling. “Yes, she’s perfect. If only she were to come to the soirée tonight…!”
That night, Fabian attended his mother’s soirée as told, decked out in his finest attire, and Hallariel paraded potential partner after potential partner before him; elves from Fallinel, dragonborn from the Mountains of Chaos, a giantess and other fey from the Feywilds – all manner of young men and women, eager to be wed to Fabian Seacaster. His eyes roamed over all them as he politely made acquaintance with them, but none won his heart.
While Fabian was inundated with suitors, a disguised Stardiamond (who of course had overheard Fabian’s announcement of the party that morning) slipped into the party with his niece, Mary Ann, in tow. Mary Ann had been disguised with a Polymorph spell to look identical to Mazey, and now Stardiamond bent over to whisper in her ear:
“You know what to do: seduce the Seacaster heir so he only has eyes for you. He is smitten with Mazey and will betray her tonight so long as you play your part!” He reached out and snatched a digital pet from Mary Ann’s hands. “And put that toy away!”
“But Stardiamond, I don’t feel good doing this!”
“I’ll buy you three new Quokki Pets if you go through with this.”
“Do I get to pick them?”
“Of course! Now, just keep your mouth shut and dance with him, and he shall be putty in our hands.”
Bribe secured, Mary Ann strode across the dance floor and past the table Fabian sat at, and he turned his head to follow her as she made her way to the punch bowl. Ignoring the blue dragonborn who was trying to strike up a conversation with him, Fabian silently left his seat and made his way to the refreshment table where he bowed to Mary Ann.
“You’re here; you made it to my party,” he whispered, as if a loud noise might frighten her away.
Mary Ann smiled demurely and nodded, but said nothing.
Fabian didn’t mind or notice, and instead held out his hand. “May I have this dance, fair maiden?”
Mary Ann put down her cup and took his hand, allowing him to lead her onto the ballroom floor. There they danced and twirled, their bodies close enough that Fabian could feel her heartbeat hammering in her chest as they moved their bodies together as one. With his back turned to the window, Fabian was unable to see the distraught figure of the true Mazey watching the dance unfold. Upset to see him bewitched by the spell, she hammered at the glass, but the orchestra was too loud, the window too far away, and her cries went unnoticed by the partygoers. They did, however, attract security, and Mazey was forced to leave the premises on threat of arrest. Heartbroken, she fled, returning to the meadow where she collapsed at her family’s feet and wept.
As Fabian’s dance with Mary Ann concluded, he leaned down and kissed her. The audience gasped at the gesture and then applauded the young couple. Hallariel hurried over to them, concerned.
“My darling Fabian, what is this? Who is this girl?”
“Oh, Mamá! This is the one I am in love with! It is her that I want to marry and live my life with! Please, give me your blessing and we shall be wed before the month is out!”
Hallariel kissed Mary Ann on the cheeks and gave her a hug. “Oh, sweet child, if you are the one my son has sworn his love to, I cannot object! I welcome you into our family with open arms, my dear!”
“Yes, Mamá! I swear to her my heart forever and a day!”
With those words a sinister cackle arose from the corner of the room and the crowd parted to reveal the evil sorcerer Stardiamond, who had shed his disguise.
“You insipid-minded man!” he sneered. “You have sworn your love to the wrong girl!”
“What!? Stardiamond, you dare to show yourself here!?” shouted Fabian, rushing towards the mage.
“Fool! That is not the true Mazey!” With a flourish of his hands and a shimmer of purple light, the spell on Mary Ann was dispelled, revealing a three-foot tall ruddy kobold in a pink hoodie, fiddling around with a digital pet.
“No!” wailed Fabian, dropping to his knees. “This cannot be!”
“Oh, but it is!” crowed Stardiamond. “You have sworn yourself to someone other than Mazey and now you cannot break the spell.” He waved his hands and created a vision on the ballroom window for all to see the crying minotaur beside the enchanted lake. “See now how the dear Mazey grieves for the loss of your love!”
“Alack and alas!” Fabian cried, pulling his hair in grief. “I must see Mazey at once!” He fled the ballroom, mounted his motorcycle, and sped off towards the countryside.
Back at the enchanted lake, Mazey’s family circled around her as she returned.
“What news do you bring?” asked her younger brother. “Has the curse been lifted?”
Silently, Mazey shook her head, tears leaving dark tracks in her fur.
“Oh, woe and sorrow! Fabian has been duped!” she lamented, throwing herself against a rock beside the lake. Her mother stepped forward, wrapped her arms around her dear daughter, and kissed her forehead.
“Oh, my poor, dear, Mazey,” she soothed. “There will be others, I’m sure of it. The wicked Stardiamond will surely not slaughter us, for he loves you too dearly. Be strong, and we shall continue to hope that one day the spell shall be broken.”
Mazey sobbed. “I was certain that Fabian was the one! I loved him so, mother!”
“I know, dear, I know. Shhhhhh, shhhhhh, hush now.” She stroked her hair as she comforted her, though soon the scene was broken by the growl of a magnificent engine.
Fabian pulled up alongside the meadow on his motorcycle and jumped off, running and stumbling across the field in his fine suit and shoes. The minotaurs glared at him as he approached, but he only had eyes for the weeping girl with her arms thrown over the rock.
“Mazey! Oh, Mazey!” he shouted, tripping over a stone and tumbling to the ground. He clawed himself upright and continued towards her, but she stopped him in his tracks with a sharp glare of hatred. He dropped to his knees again and crawled towards her, hands grasped in supplication. “Forgive me, my love! Please, I beg of you!”
“How can you call me your love when you have promised your heart to another?!” she anguished, turning away from him. “I have no heart left to give, for it has been dashed against the rocks of betrayal and left broken!”
“I was deceived by the dreadful Stardiamond! He transformed another and led me to believe it was you! Believe me! I only pledge my heart to you, Mazey! No matter how you may look, cow or minotaur, I love you, and only you! I am deeply sorry to have fallen for such a wicked trick, and I pledge that I shall remain devoted to only you for the remainder of my life – nay, even beyond then – for all eternity, you have my heart!”
Tearfully, Mazey turned her head to take in the young man prostrating along the ground, his clothes sullied with mud, begging her for forgiveness and promising his love to only her. Her heart fluttered in her chest, and she knew that she still loved him.
“Oh, Fabian,” she whispered, reaching down to lift him off the ground. “I love you so, and I forgive you. Stardiamond is indeed a clever and wicked man, and I cannot blame you for falling for his tricks. Come, profess your love to me and surely it shall still break his curse.”
“I cannot allow you to do that!” bellowed a voice from the darkness.
“Stardiamond!” cried Mazey, getting to her feet.
“Yes, it is I, and I shall not allow you to give your heart to anyone but me!”
Impassioned, Mazey stormed over to the sorcerer. “You are too late, for I love him and our love shall break your terrible curse!”
“You shall love him only in death!” warned Stardiamond. “Recant your words this instant or face the consequences!”
“Don’t you dare take back your love!” shouted Mazey’s grandfather from the crowd of minotaurs gathered at the lake’s edge. “We believe in you, our darling Mazey!”
Mazey drew herself up and glared at the sorcerer. “I shall not deny my love for Fabian!”
“Then you shall die!” announced Stardiamond, his eyes filled with anger, and he raised his arms and chanted a verse in his dark tongue.
“Draw your sword and attack the one you love,” commanded Stardiamond, casting a Dominate Person spell over Fabian.
Eyes clouded over with the spell, Fabian drew his sword.
Mazey looked back at her love and quailed. “No! Fabian!” She took a step back and cast her sorrowful eyes at the mage. “Stardiamond! Please! Stop this! Why won’t you let me be?!”
“Because I want you all for myself! If I cannot be with you, no one shall!”
“No! Please!”
Fabian stepped forward and lunged at the maiden. His strike was true and he ran her through the chest.
“No! Alas! Please, let this be a dream!” she cried, collapsing to the ground.
The spell over Fabian ended and he looked down, down, down, following the length of his sword to the spreading bloodstain on Mazey’s chest. He screamed.
His evil deed done, Stardiamond cackled and vanished, leaving the meadow full of stricken minotaurs and a stunned Fabian.
“Mazey, oh Mazey, my love!” cried Fabian, scooping her up in his arms. Her head lolled backwards and her eyes, growing glassy, looked at him, trying their best to focus on his face.
“Oh… Fabian… I am so sorry…” she whispered, blood trickling out of her mouth.
“Shhh, no, no, don’t speak,” he said, looking into her eyes as the light therein began to fade.
“I love… you…” she mumbled, lifting up a trembling hand to touch his cheek. “I know… you are the one who would have broken the curse.”
“Do not leave me!” he sobbed, nuzzling her hand before she grew too weak and dropped it to her stomach.
“Someone!” he shouted, staggering around the lakeside. “Anyone, please help!”
The minotaurs hung their heads, unable to heal their beloved Mazey.
She stilled in his arms, and Fabian’s heart went cold. “Mazey…! Mazey…!” he shouted, shaking her inert body in his arms, but she did not respond.
Grief-stricken, he looked about wildly until his gaze settled on the lake. Without moving his eyes from his target, Fabian walked steadily forward towards that lake of eternal springtime, Mazey’s body hanging limply in his arms. The family of minotaurs parted, allowing him access to the lake, and he waded into the water. The water was cool and clear, with water lilies floating on top, and he pressed forward, pushing them aside as he walked deeper into the lake. When the water reached his chest, he paused and leaned down to kiss Mazey, his tears falling onto her cheeks. And then he continued, solemnly walking into the water as it engulfed the young woman in his arms. He did not hesitate when the water reached his chin, nor his nose, eyes, brow, and even when he was fully submerged in the lake, he continued to walk, carrying his beloved.
The minotaurs watched as bubbles floated on the surface, until one by one they popped and the lake’s surface went still.
Dawn returned again, but when the first rays of the sun reached out over the meadow and enchanted lake, Mazey’s family did not revert to their bovine forms. Her family gathered around the side of the lake and mourned the loss of their dear Mazey. They were free of Stardiamond’s curse, but at the steepest cost, one that they never wanted to pay. Her youngest brother created a wreath of flowers and floated it out onto the lake, and from there arose two spectres. The family watched as they rose from the water – one young man and one fair minotaur lady – happy and embracing. Their spirits ascended into the sky and then vanished, heading to Elysium where they could live together forever in happiness.