Adjerbaj

“Once upon a time, in a land very far away from here, there lived two girls named Emma and Evie. The land was called Adjerbaj. Adjerbaj was a beautiful land, full of fruits and plants and magic. It was the place every girl and boy longed to go. Everything in Adjerbaj was perfect,” a female voice started, telling a story to several young kids.

“Ah, that’s bologna,” a different voice interrupted her. “Adjerbaj had some issues.”

“E, I’m telling a story here!”

“Sorry, continue.”

“As I was saying, Adjerbaj was perfect. It was amazing there. But there are stories of that land that have yet to be told. Stories like the one I am about to tell you.”

***

“C’mon, Emma, we’re going to be late for the coronation!” a young girl cried, hurrying her friend who was still touching up her hair.

“One minute, Evie! I’m almost done. I’ve just got to…there!” her friend replied, putting the last clip in place. “See, all done. We can go now!”

“Took you long enough. Let’s go!”

The two girls hurried out the door and through the streets, lifting their dresses so they could run. The streets were pretty much empty, but that was no surprise; today was the coronation of Prince Stephan, soon to be King Stephan. He would become the ruler of Adjerbaj, the kingdom of prosperity. At least, that’s what everyone called it. Adjerbaj was a wealthy nation. It was also beautiful. The lakes, mountains, streams, rivers, gardens, flowers, all of it was breathtaking. Even the architecture of the towns was gorgeous, especially Amaron, the capital. That was where Emma and Evie lived.

With only a minute to spare, the two girls arrived in the Great Hall, panting. “Does my hair still look okay, E?” Emma asked, worried. She was always one for fashion. Her dark, wavy hair was always done perfectly, and today was no exception.

“It looks fine, Em,” Evie said. Evie never really cared that much about how she looked, but she had tried to look her best today. It was the coronation, after all.

Emma gave Evie a small smile. “Thanks.”

The duo made their way up to the second row, where their mothers were waiting. Both of their fathers were high ranking knights working as guards for the ceremony. Their mothers were ladies of the court, a high honor in Adjerbaj. “Where have you two been?” Emma’s mother demanded as the girls plopped down in their seats, out of breath.

“Gettin’ ready,” Emma stated.

Before her mother could reply, trumpets sounded. A man dressed in a suit of armour appeared at the top of the steps. “Attention, everyone!” he cried. The entire crowd was silent with anticipation. “I present to you, Prince Stephan!”

The crowd cheered as a man walked out. He wore a royal blue cape. His hair was brown, and it fell to his shoulders. His chocolate eyes sparkled. He smiled gently at the knight before slowly walking down the steps, waving at his people. When he reached the bottom, an older lady appeared next to him. She held her hand up, and the crowd quickly quieted. “Kneel,” she commanded the prince.

The prince immediately did as he was told, resting on one knee and looking up at the lady. “Do you swear to do everything in your power to protect your kingdom?” she asked.

“I do.”

“And do you swear to do all actions as king for the good of Adjerbaj?”

“I do.”

“Do you swear it on your life?”

“I do.”

The lady nodded. She reached over and grabbed the crown from a table that was standing next to her, and placing it on his head she announced, “King Stephan!”

The crowd erupted with cheers as the king stood up. Emma looked at Evie with a smile on her face. After a few moments, he held up his hand just as the lady had done. As before, the crowd was silenced. “As my first statement as King, I would like to present you to the lady whom I have chosen to be my queen,” he said. He turned around, and a woman appeared on the steps, dressed in a purple gown. She made her way down the steps to the king. He took her hand and kissed it. “Lady Gwendoline!” he declared.

The crowd cheered for her, but Emma and Evie looked at each other in confusion and concern. It was obvious that they felt the same thing; something wasn’t right with the lady Gwendoline. Something felt…off. Lady Gwendoline looked out at the crowd, smiling and waving. She made eye contact with the two girls and waved directly at them. In that short glance her eyes flashed a deep green from their normal blue. “Did you see that?” Evie whispered to Emma as soon as the soon-to-be queen looked away.

“Her eyes?”

Evie nodded.

“Yeah. Why’d they turn green like that?”

“I don’t know. I have a bad feeling about her.”

“Me too.”

The two girls looked at the lady again, then back at each other. After a few moments, the king and queen bowed together, and the knight from earlier dismissed the people. Many stayed to chat and speak with the new couple, but Emma and Evie did not. They ran off as quick as they could, meeting under their favorite tree in the forest at the edge of the city. “I don’t like the lady,” Emma said. “I feel like she’s done something evil, and if she hasn’t, she’s going to do something bad soon.”

“I agree. We need to do something.”

Before Emma could reply, the ground began to shake beneath them. Darkness started to cover the city, starting from the castle where the coronation had been. Emma shrieked as the ground opened up beneath them and they fell into the abyss below.

The two girls landed on the ground with a thud. They sat up and looked around. They were in some sort of cave covered in glistening crystals. As beautiful as it was, something still seemed off about it. There was no sign of any opening at the top where the girls had fallen from. “E, where are we?” Emma asked as she stood up, voice trembling.

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen this place before. I don’t know how we get out either.” Evie looked around, taking in all of her surroundings.

“What was happening in the city? It looked like it was turning black.”

“I don’t know!”

Suddenly, a glowing crystal began floating towards them “E?” Emma asked, unsure of what was happening.

Evie reached out and grabbed the crystal. Blue light began flowing from the crystal and into the girl. Her eyes lit up an electric blue. She let out a gasp and dropped the crystal. She held her hand out, and blue energy floated around it. “Sick,” she muttered. She shoved her hand out, and light flew through the air, crashing into the only barren wall of the cave and obliterating the rock that it hit. She laughed. “This is awesome!”

Another crystal floated towards them from off the other wall. Emma glanced at Evie, who nodded and smiled at her. With that reassurance, Emma grabbed the crystal from out of the air. A purple glow began to spread through her body just as the blue had done to her friend. As she dropped the crystal she let the purple wisps dance around her fingers; her eyes shone a deep purple. A small smile crept its way onto her lips as she twirled the energy around, forming it into a sword before allowing it to disappear. “What just happened?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Evie replied, still mesmerized by the magical energy that was in them. “We have to have received these powers for a reason though. Maybe we’re meant to stop whatever is happening outside in Adjerbaj. We were spared from that darkness, after all. I don’t think we found this cave; I think it found us.”

“Wow, didn’t know you were so smart.”

Evie laughed. “It’s common sense, Em.”

Emma chuckled with her friend. “Let’s see if we can get out of here.”

Evie held her hands above her head and shot out a blast of energy. The ceiling crumpled down, leaving a hole that led to darkness. The girls looked at each other. Emma shrugged before making a ladder out of purple energy. They climbed up it and crawled out of the hole. Emma got rid of the ladder, and both of the girls used their powers to create light above them. “E, I think we’re in the forest,” Emma said.

“Why is it so dark?”

Emma just shrugged. “I think we should get to the castle. Something tells me this is Lady Gwendoline’s doing.”

The two girls linked hands as they made their way through the forest and out to the cobble road. Everything was pitch black, and the only light was coming from their hands. They didn’t see anyone, which was concerning since the streets were normally filled with people. They glanced at each other as they walked, each bearing a worried look on her face. Neither of them dared to speak. Before long, they arrived in front of the castle. Taking a deep breath, Evie opened the door. It let out a loud creeeeeeek as it swung agape. They could only hope that it hadn’t actually been as loud as it had sounded to them. They stepped through the door and into the castle. It was perfectly silent, a far cry from the bustling and excitement that had been there hours before. Just like outside, there were no people at all. Where was everyone?

Emma and Evie turned the corner, making their way into the Great Hall. At the top of the steps stood Lady Gwendoline, her eyes glowing the same green they had when she had looked at the girls earlier. Green energy flowed from her fingertips, morphing into darkness once it floated away from her. “What are you doing?!” Evie exclaimed.

Briefly, the lady was pulled out of her trance. Her energy faltered. She looked at the small girls standing below her. Each still had energy flowing around their own hands. “Out, stupid girls!” she cried.

She sent out a green tendril towards them. On instinct the girls held out their own hands, creating a shield from the energy. The tendril smashed into the shield and exploded. “Where did you get those powers?” she demanded.

Evie stepped forwards, still behind the shield that Emma was holding up on her own now. “We will tell you once you tell us what you did to our people,” she replied, standing tall.

“Oh, silly girl. What could you possibly do against me?”

“Tell us what you did to our people!” Evie roared. Her eyes and hands were both shining bright blue.

Gwendoline laughed. Evie could feel her anger coursing through her veins. Emma could tell and opened a small hole in the shield. Evie shot out a blast of energy right through the hole. It hit right in front of Gwendoline and exploded the ground right in front of her. She yelled and jumped back. “How dare you!”

“Tell us what you did to them!”

Gwendoline lifted the darkness that was around them with a flick of her wrist. The girls looked around. All of the people who had been at the coronation (which was pretty much everyone in the kingdom) were lying on the ground. “They are unconscious now, you see, but they won’t be for long. My magic is stronger than both of yours combined. When they awake, they will be completely under my control. This kingdom will be mine, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it!” She laughed, and the people around them started to stir.

Emma noticed one person in particular stand up. “Mother!” she cried. But her mother did not even react. Her eyes glowed the same green as Gwendoline’s. “Mother!” she sobbed again.

“There is nothing you can do, girl. She is under my control now.”

“How dare you!?” Evie exclaimed.

Gwendoline just smirked. “You have a choice,” she said slowly, looking at the girls. “You can let down that stupid shield you have and let me take you too, or you can die. As I said, it’s your choice.” She let out a laugh.

The girls looked at each other, Emma still holding up the shield. “So, what are we supposed to do?” Emma asked.

“Well, we either die or become robots, so I vote death, ‘cause this woman’s a jerk.”

“We’re not going to die, but I agree, I’d rather be dead than under her control.”

Evie nodded. “Gwendoline,” she declared. “You cannot overtake us. We will free our people, or we will die trying.”

Gwendoline laughed yet again and spit on the crumbled rocks at her feet. “Have it your way then.” She turned to the people. “Kill them.”

Knights came out of the crowds. Each one of them had glowing green eyes. They held swords, and it was obvious they were going to kill, just as the evil lady had told them. Her eyes continued to glow as green energy began to swirl around her hands. The girls glanced at each other, determined looks set on their faces. “Let’s do this,” Emma said as she dropped the shield and formed her energy into a bow and arrows.

Evie grinned and held her hands out in front of her, feeling the power radiating through her. Both of their eyes were glowing. Evie shoved her hands and blasted her energy into an oncoming knight, knocking him unconscious, but not killing him. Emma shot several arrows at a few other knights as well. They crumpled to the ground. “E, you take out the lady, I’ll work on the knights,” Emma called.

“Got it!” Evie replied. She ran up the steps, dodging knights and other people and blasting everyone in her path out of the way. She deflected the dark energy that flew from Gwendoline’s hands, knocking it into the ground. Gwendoline screamed and knocked several more blasts of energy at the girl, who created a wall of energy that blocked it. Behind her, Emma had changed her energy from a bow to a sword and was defending herself against five knights, with several more approaching. She didn’t know how much longer she could defend herself and could only hope that Evie would defeat Gwendoline soon.

Evie sent her own blast of energy at Gwendoline. It missed by an inch and exploded the wall beside her. Gwendoline screamed in anger and sent black tendrils at Evie, who swiftly dodged and surrounded herself in bright blue energy. She then crushed that energy into a ball and threw it at the ceiling above the lady. Gwendoline laughed. “You think that can stop me?” she chuckled.

Evie looked up and saw the ceiling starting to crumble. “Yeah, I do,” she said.

Immediately afterwards, the ceiling collapsed. Gwendoline let out a cry as the rubble fell, crushing her. Evie looked down the stairs at her friend. Emma hadn’t even noticed what was happening; she was too focused on the knights surrounding her. She had a gash on her leg and arm, both of which were bleeding. She was about to get hit by another knight when suddenly the knight dropped his weapon. He blinked a few times, and his eyes turned to a natural brown. He rubbed his eyes. “What happened?” he asked groggily.

Around him, all the other knights and civilians started to do the same. Emma looked up at Evie, who smiled as she slowly made her way down the steps. “The Queen put a spell on you,” Emma told the man. “It’s gone now.”

“Was I trying to hurt you?”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s over now. You couldn’t control it.” Emma gave the man a small smile before turning to her best friend. “We did it!” she exclaimed, giving her a high five.

“Heck yeah we did!”

The girls laughed. Suddenly, the King came out from the crowd. “Where is Lady Gwendoline?” he asked.

The crowd was silent. “Long story short, she spelled all of y’all and tried to kill me and Evie here, so she may or may not be under that pile of rubble,” Evie said calmly.

“What?!” the king roared in disbelief.

“She wasn’t a good person,” Emma said.

“My lady,” King Stephan whispered.

“And that’s our cue to leave,” Evie muttered to her friend.

Emma nodded, and the two made their way out of the castle and to the forest where it all began. From out of the trees, two familiar looking crystals floated towards them. With sad smiles on their faces, the girls reached out and grabbed them. They felt the power flow out of them and into the crystals once more. They let go of the crystals, and the crystals disappeared as soon as they touched the ground. “I wish we didn’t have to lose our powers,” Emma lamented.

“So do I, but I think it’s for the best. Maybe one day someone else will need those powers to save Adjerbaj again,” her friend replied.

A grin etched its way onto both girls’ faces. “Last one to the castle is a rotten egg!” Evie called, racing off with Emma right on her tail.

***

“And that is the story of how Evie and I saved Adjerbaj,” the voice finished.

The kids cheered. “I wanna be like you some day!” a little girl exclaimed.

Emma laughed. “Maybe you will. Maybe one day you’ll go to Adjerbaj too.”

“I hope so.”

Emma and Evie looked at each other with smiles on their faces. They knew that one day, these amazing kids would become heroes in their own worlds, just like they had so long ago back home in Adjerbaj.