Chapter Three: The Kingdom in Peril

 

Chapter Three: The Kingdom in Peril

Ariel felt like she was falling through a dream.

The wind rushed past her ears, her hair flying upward like golden ribbons. Colors streaked past—blues, pinks, purples, sparkles of gold—like sliding down the inside of a magical rainbow. She wasn’t scared. Not really. Just... breathless.

Beside her, Boo spun through the tunnel in a puff of fur and indignant yowls. Her yellow eyes were wide as saucers, and her paws flailed like she was trying to claw her way back up.

“I hate this!” Boo screeched.

Ariel could only laugh. It was wild, dizzying, and completely unbelievable—but somehow, she felt okay. Like she belonged here, even if she didn’t understand why yet.

Then, as suddenly as the fall began, it stopped.

They didn’t hit the ground with a thud. Instead, they floated. For just a second, Ariel hovered in the air, like time forgot about her. Then the air shimmered around her, and she gently landed on something soft.

Grass.

But not like any grass she’d ever seen.

It glowed.

Each blade shimmered with a soft, silvery light, and the air was warm and sweet like it had been mixed with honey and flowers. Ariel sat up slowly, her eyes wide as she took in the world around her.

They were in a valley, ringed by tall, twisting trees with trunks of pale blue and leaves that shimmered like glass. The sky above was a deep violet, scattered with stars that blinked even though it was daytime—or was it nighttime? It was hard to tell.

Floating above them were islands—yes, floating. Large chunks of land drifted lazily in the sky, with waterfalls spilling off their edges and vanishing into sparkles before they hit the ground.

“Whoa,” Ariel breathed.

Boo groaned beside her, flat on her back, legs splayed out. “I am never doing that again.”

Ariel helped her up gently, brushing some grass off Boo’s fur. “You okay?”

“Define ‘okay,’” Boo muttered, licking her paw. “If ‘okay’ means I’ve been sucked through a glowing tree stump into sparkle-land, then sure. Peachy.”

Ariel giggled. “I think it’s beautiful.”

Boo sat up straighter, glancing around with twitching whiskers. “I’ll give you that. Beautiful and suspicious.”

They stood together, turning slowly to take everything in. In the distance, nestled at the base of a silver mountain, was a city. Its towers shimmered like crystal, and bridges of light arched between them. Soft music floated through the air—notes like chimes carried on the wind.

As Ariel stared, something rustled in the bushes nearby. Out stumbled a fox-like creature walking upright on two legs, mumbling to itself.

"Ugh, I knew I should've brought a snack. What kind of explorer forgets food?" he grumbled, rubbing his belly. His fur was a mix of soft reds and browns, and he wore a tiny vest with lots of pockets that jingled as he walked.

He spotted Ariel and froze. "Hey—wait, do you have any food? I'm absolutely starving!"

Ariel blinked. "Uh... no, sorry."

The creature took a step closer, squinting at her fingers. "Hang on... your hands..."

He reached out a paw and tapped one of her fingers.

"Hey!" Ariel said, stepping back and using her other hand—still clutching the glowing key—to gently push his paw away. "What are you doing?"

The fox creature gasped, his eyes going wide as saucers. "The key! Is that the key? Oh stardust, I can't believe this..."

He looked her up and down in awe, then gasped again when he caught sight of Boo.

"And her! The shadowed one! The protector!"

Boo’s eyes narrowed. "Excuse me? Why are you staring at me like I’m a museum exhibit?"

The fox creature held up his paws. "I didn’t know! I didn’t realize who you were at first, I swear!"

Ariel frowned. "Who are we exactly?"

He dropped into a deep, dramatic bow. "You are the Starborn. And that—" he pointed at Boo, "—is your guardian. I thought it was all just a legend; just a folktale told to children... but you’re really here!"

“Welcome, Starborn,” it said, bowing low.

Ariel blinked. “Starborn?”

“You are she,” said the creature. “The one who holds the key and walks with the shadowed protector.”

Ariel looked down at the key in her hand. It had stopped glowing, but she still felt it pulsing in her palm like it knew it was home.

“Shadowed protector?” Boo said, offended. “Excuse me?”

The fox-like creature just smiled. “Come. Queen Liora awaits.”

Ariel looked at Boo.

“Shadowed protector,” Boo muttered, rolling her eyes. “Unbelievable.”

Ariel stood still for a moment, staring after the creature, then looked down at Boo. "Where... are we?" she whispered. "And who—or what—is Starborn?"

Boo gave her a sideways glance. "I have no idea" She said shrugging. "Maybe ask the fox thing."

Ariel turned her eyes toward the crystal city in the distance, a mixture of wonder and confusion swirling inside her. She felt a pull in her chest, like invisible strings were drawing her forward. She didn’t know what Starborn meant or why that creature had called her that—but she knew she had to find out.

The fox creature had started walking toward the city at this point.  Ariel ran and caught up to him. "Wait! Can I ask... where is this place? What is it called?"

The creature paused and smiled big. "You are in Luminara, the Kingdom of Starlight. A realm hidden from the eyes of the ordinary. Only those chosen—like you—may pass through the veil."

Ariel blinked. "Luminara," she repeated in awe. The name sounded like magic itself.

The creature gave a nod and grinned. "Come on! The Queen will be so delighted to see you!" he said, his tail flicking excitedly as he trotted ahead, casting a glowing trail of sparkles behind.

As Ariel followed the fox-like creature, she looked up at him curiously. "What's your name, by the way?" she asked.

The creature glanced over his shoulder, his ears twitching. "Oh! Name’s Thistle. Thistle Fernwhistle, at your service," he said with a playful bow.

Ariel giggled and waved back at Boo, who was still standing a few paces behind. "Come on, Boo!"

Boo gave a dramatic sigh, flicked her tail, and padded after them. "Fine, fine. I’m coming. But if this Queen doesn’t have a snack table, I’m going right back through that stump" She said looking around as she walked. "If I could find that stump I would" Boo said hesitantly. 

But Ariel wasn’t really listening to Boo. She was still walking beside Thistle, trying to catch up to her thoughts as quickly as her feet.

"Mr. Fernwhistle?" she said, glancing up at him. "Why does this queen lady want to see me? Who is she? Or who am I? Who is Starborn? I mean... I don’t know if you know this, but I kind of accidentally ended up here, so I’m guessing this might be a mistake."

Thistle slowed down, his fluffy ears drooping slightly. He glanced at her, a little more gently this time.

"No mistake," he said with a serious nod. "It’s not always clear at the beginning, but Starborns never arrive by accident. The Queen will explain more. She has answers I don’t."

Boo caught up with a light huff, her yellow eyes narrowing at the fox. "A couple of questions, Mr. Fox Whistle—or Thistle Fern—whatever your name is. First of all, does this Queen of yours have food? Because my stomach is saying that back where we come from, it’s morning. And I eat in the morning."

Thistle chuckled, ears perking. "Oh, don’t worry. The Queen’s halls are never without a feast."

"Good," Boo grumbled. "And second... just a teensy little question: how exactly do we leave this very lovely yet slightly suspicious land?"

Thistle paused mid-step and glanced back with a playful but unreadable smile. "That, my furry friend, is something we can talk about—after you’ve met the Queen."

As they continued toward the shimmering city, Ariel couldn't help but watch the life around her—life that was unlike anything from her world. Brightly colored birds with crystal wings darted between the silver-leafed trees, leaving sparkling trails in the air behind them. Small, chubby creatures with soft fur and glowing eyes bounced lazily through the tall grass, humming gentle tunes as they passed. A creature that looked like a cross between a turtle and a dragonfly floated by, its shell shimmering like a gemstone.

Butterflies as big as dinner plates flitted from flower to flower, their wings changing color with every flap. Some of the trees seemed to breathe, their branches gently swaying even when there was no wind, and one flower turned its glowing face to follow Ariel as she walked by.

The group eventually stepped out of the glowing forest and onto a wide, winding trail made of smooth, shimmering stones. The trees gave way to rolling hills, and the glowing spires of the city stood taller and clearer in the distance.

"This road leads to the Queen," Thistle said, adjusting his vest and puffing his chest with pride. "We’ll be there before you know it."

But then, the ground rumbled beneath their feet.

A deep, low thoom-thoom-thoom echoed across the valley.

Ariel froze, her eyes scanning the horizon. Just beyond a distant ridge, four massive shapes came into view.

Rhinoceros-like beasts, tall as houses, with cracked gray armor for skin and jagged horns that shimmered like obsidian. Unlike everything else in Luminara, they weren’t bright or colorful. They were dark. Frightening.

"What are those?" Ariel whispered.

Thistle’s ears folded flat, and he grabbed Ariel’s hand. "Get down!" he hissed, pulling her toward a large, sparkling bush.

The trio ducked beneath the glittering leaves, hiding among the branches as the creatures stomped by, their breath steaming and their eyes glowing a sickly yellow.

Ariel’s heart pounded. "What are they?"

Thistle gulped. "Well... if I were to guess? Probably partly the reason you’re here, Starborn."