Once Upon a Time by Lauren Alexandra

When he was younger, the Prince had always been told stories starting with the words once upon a time…

These stories unfolded themselves in his young mind, surrounding him with the fantasy of quests and beasts, glass swords and a beautiful princess who needed saving. As he grew up alongside Piper, he knew this last bedtime tale was untrue. Being as fierce and as strong as he was, despite her thin arms and long hair that continuously blew across her eyes, the Prince knew she did not need saving from anyone or anything. He often wondered if he would even be good enough for the task, should it ever occur. Piper would probably end up getting them both out of the mess and find berries safe enough for them to eat on their journey back to safety. That is how it had always been growing up. As the Prince stumbled into his royal expectations only to get tangled and lost, Piper had always been there to stretch out a hand and pull him free. She also had a way with words that managed to charm any angry adult, convincing them no punishment or mention to Father was ever needed. But Piper was not set to be his princess, and the day she left for the Otherside felt like an end to a great adventure.

He was eighteen years old as the royal expectations only continued to transform into duties before his eyes. He felt lost, wounded. This world did not feel like his. Piper had felt like a part of him, a limb he couldn’t go on without.

Wandering the old forest trail he felt sad to admit this to himself. He meant no disrespect to Piper, he would forever hold her close to his heart. And he did, as a small dagger no longer than a finger hit against his chest as he walked. Their names etched into the metal she’d asked him only one favour as they said goodbye, please don’t forget about me. But to not know himself without the company of another? That didn’t feel like a trait of the noble, heroic protagonists of all those stories.

His brown hair was longer than his Father favoured, falling slightly over his eyes whenever he looked down. Sensitive green eyes that whispered to the trees as he walked, the mountains knew he was the one to trust.

Once upon a time, there was a boy who needed saving from his own thoughts. The only person with a rope long enough is gone, what am I to do? Well, I’ll save myself.

He wished deeply not to return to his home, but to instead wander the forest that snaked elegantly up the mountains forever. The trees were tall, bright. They offered a smile as he stood there, looking up at them.

Will you take care of me? No, never mind. I should like to think I’ll take care of you. Of myself.

And that was how the story began.

“The Prince wandered the forest for days, remembering what his dearest friend had taught him about berries and plants, what the sun in the sky meant. And then one day as he was building himself a humble home amongst the tree tops, a little fairy fluttered down beside him. Do you know what she said to the Prince?” The woman said, peering timidly at the crowd of young faces sat before her.

“Tell us!” They begged, the leaves intertwined with their hair rustling with the excitement.

“Well, the little fairy of course introduced herself first. She said, my name is Annabel and I live on the Otherside. The Otherside? The Prince asked, confused. It wasn’t common for people of the Otherside to wander back over. I came on behalf of my friend, she asked me to find the Prince, the Prince who wears a small dagger around his neck. At this the fairy twirled happily, before flying quickly away. Wait, wait! The Prince called, rushing down from the trees.”

“What happened next? Please tell us, Queen Piper.”

Once upon a time, there were two best friends who grew up together only to be pulled apart by fate. One belonged to the forest, one to the Otherside. They felt lost without one another, as if their hearts couldn’t quite catch a breath without them near. It wasn’t until they learned to beat on their own that the forest brought them back together again. But this time they were stronger, two people instead of one. They knew they could stand alone, and this only made them stronger as they stood together. And this, this is how the story of the King and Queen of the Mountains comes to a close.