Chapter 9

Something wasn’t right. I was slowly growing an urge to tell Shake my secret, that secret I kept from most people for so long. We had been very slowly drifting away from each other ever since we first met on that morning. It’s about time I did tell him though, I have enough confidence. I’m going to do it, I thought, everything would be alright if I told him. I saw him by the tree.

“I need to tell you something…” I said, sitting by his side. He avoided eye contact with me.

“And that is?”

I said nothing, I was nervous. “I’ve been keeping a secret…”

“Secrets, eh?” He asked.

“Yes. I have a curse.”

“What kind of curse?”

“Every night I turn into… this… and I need to find true love before my 20^th birthday or I’ll be stuck like this forever.”

Shake looked at me. “Being a snake isn’t that bad, you know?”

“But I’ll also lose my powers.”

“Venima, you don’t need magic, you’re perfect as you are.”

“Kaos’ Mom needs me,” I said, “She wants this necklace, because it has powers in it. It’s the reason I ran away.”

“Ran away?” Shake was looking at me, “Why didn’t you tell us that you ran away?!”

“I barely knew you! I’m from Windsong Islands, I’m actually a human.”

“I don’t negotiate with humans.”

“I see, but I need help.”

“I’m not kissing you. It’s about time you left, back where you came from. It isn’t safe here; you’ve nearly got yourself killed about two or three times without me knowing!”

“I’m sorry…”

“Skylands is a dangerous place for humans, its best you stay where you’re better off.”

“And there’s a prince, his name is Antonio and I most likely have to marry him.”

Shake gasped, he stood up and turned away. I thought I had broken his heart with all this news.

“Go, marry him, it’s best for you my friend.” He murmured.

And with that, he left. He came across all the swappers looking at us. I looked on at the

“What happened?” Wash asked.

“She’s decided that she needs to go…”

“Go?!” Rocket’s little voice was just about heard from the crowd of Skylanders. “She can’t leave!” She looked up at me. “Please don’t leave…”

“I’m so sorry, Rocky,” I said, “it isn’t safe for me, I need to go home. It’s where I’m best off.” For the first time I saw her tearing up. I knelt down beside her and picked a buttercup. “Now do me a favour; be strong, and maybe one day you’ll be like your father. And don’t forget me. Take this.” I handed her the buttercup, waved goodbye to my friends then left them.

I went the other way, thinking that I had lost a good life forever; then I realised I had to do this. So I touched the jewel on my necklace and in a few seconds I was human again, I could still walk OK. But it had been so long. I kept on walking across the landscapes and along the way I came when I met Rattle Shake. I would look up at the blue sky from time to time; waiting to see if a stormy cloud or two was there, but there were none. It was a clear day.

But then as I came to the edge of an island, I saw them. White and chestnut coloured Pegasus’s and some guards in gold and white armour stood resting in the grass across the forest. I touched my forehead with my left hand and I was back in my original dress, pretending that nothing happened. I made a gesture towards them, trying to beckon the guards to come to me. Only one noticed a guard with a chestnut Pegasus.

“I think I’ve found her!” He cried, making a gesture to the other guards.

“Who have you found, Gerald?” The next guard asked the first one?

“The princess!”

“Are you sure? She looks an awful lot older…”

“She is indeed; it’s been four years, Bryan.”

I watched as they silently agreed that it was me, so Gerald the Guard (I’m going to call him that from now on, because it’s funny.) Flew over on his Pegasus and bowed before me as he held my hand and lifted me onto his horse.

We flew off into the mountains, followed by the rest of the guards. Going past the clouds would reveal the spiralling buildings all around us; people were walking past, minding their own business. Until we flew on in, there was cheering for some reason – it was likely because they wanted to celebrate the return of a princess that had been missing nearly four years. The Pegasus at the front landed in front of the fountain, the other ones would land behind us in a triangular formation. My mother came to see this; her face was blushing with joy while she rushed onto the scene. She looked slightly older.

“It’s been four years, my dear!” She said, charging at me and hugging me tightly. “I’ve missed you, how did you survive?”

“…Magic…” I replied, I had nothing else to say.

“I understand, magic helps us through a lot of things, I’d never expect someone to survive alone, and you’re brave, because Skylands may be full of horrible things…”

“You’re right, mother,” I murmured, “It was hard…”

“Welcome back – oh! That reminds me, I have some news, come with me, darling…”

I followed her back into the palace, where we walked into a room. Immediately, I was struck by the warmth of the fireplace. The walls were dark red while the carpet was a dark maroon colour with golden engravings, the wood below it was a gorgeous chestnut colour, and above the fireplace was a portrait of our grandfather. Finally, hanging from the ceiling, was a crystal chandelier – Mother always said the founders of the palace loved to eat pies in here.

“Take your shoes off, if you want to, and take a seat here and we’ll discuss the news!” Verona told me, I left my shoes by the door and sat on the armchair opposite. Mother called for a maid to fetch us a cup of tea each.

“I wanted to let you know, Antonio had told me that he wants to marry you… He found you to be a wonderful dancer, a very social person and a beautiful young lady. I think you will like him as well, I hope for the wedding to take place tomorrow night.” She said. I looked at her and said nothing. I can’t do this, I thought, he isn’t my kind, why do I have to do this? I can’t marry someone I don’t like… Eventually, the maid came with our tea.

I spent the rest of the day pacing around the corridors, worrying about the day Antonio would kiss me, and nothing would happen; I knew he truly didn’t love me. He just wanted to marry me. And I didn’t like the groom, he wasn’t the right man. Maybe Shake would find out about this, he would crash this wedding and the life I liked more would be back. But he never knew about Windsong or its people, and most likely never will.

I guessed it had to be done, and maybe it could turn out alright in the end for me…