Princess in the Rough
Chapter 28

Maleficent

I flew, slicing through the air, to the castle of my brother. I hadn’t been here in fifteen years. I think Echo was trying to speak to me but the wind in my ears made it impossible to hear her clearly.

I landed in front of the castle gates and lowered my neck so Echo could get off. I felt her slowly slide down and then watched as she flopped onto the ground limply. This both surprised me and amused me.

“Echo.” I said in the language of dragons. I knew she couldn’t understand me but it was worth a try. I nudged her roughly, not enough to harm her, but enough to cause her to stir. But it did nothing. Oh no, the curse, it’s got her.

I gently grabbed her and placed her back on my back, then walked in.

The place was smaller then I remember, but that’s probably because I was a dragon.

The corridors stretched until they broke off into different rooms, stairways, and other corridors. I concentrated on where to go and soon, after transforming and walking up a tower, I got to the room the supposedly Amber was in.

“No, don’t transfer, the curse, to yourself…” Echo muttered in her sleep when I set her next to Amber.

“I know dear, I know. But, I might have to. I could prove myself and save you and your friend. Nobody would miss me anyway.” I muttered mostly to myself. “Only true love or a pure heart can save this child.”

I looked down from a window to the forest below. Maybe one of your wolf friends could save you? No, how would I get them to come.

I sighed. There’s only one way left.

“Thank you, Echo; for showing me the light. I am indebted to you; forever and always.” With that, I swiftly walked out the door and through the castle gates.

I stopped for breath in the park and looked around. If I was a spinning wheel, where would I be? I closed my eyes and concentrated on my spell. “Adel em ot hte surdec niinpnisg elehw.” I cast my spell and opened my eyes, which were now glowing green. I felt a rush through my body, and my senses came alive! I looked ahead and saw a faint, glowing trail; leading outside the village gates.

I followed it until I reached a half squashed blackberry bush. Through the pressed down side, I could see the spinning wheel. The same one my grandmother created to make Aurora, Sleeping Beauty, fall asleep.

Don’t do it! I could’ve sworn I hear Echo call into my head. I’m sorry young Echo. You have great potential, but I can’t help you achieve it any longer. This is my gift to you for freeing me from the chains of sadness.

I morphed back into my normal self, so I could reach in and prick my finger atop the spindle, a small bead of blood running down my finger.

“Tell Amber, I said hello.” And I fell to the ground, the world dimming around me, until, like a light going out, it vanished.

Amber’s point of view

I rubbed my eyes and sat up. My whole body ached, my finger throbbed, and I felt like throwing up.

I looked out the window, evening. I didn’t know I slept that long! I better start heading back! Wait, when did I get inside?

I looked around and rubbed my eyes again. Laying on Zavana’s couch was Echo, while I was on a cot in the center of the room. Zavana was sleeping in a chair in a odd position, several guards were snoring peacefully on the floor, and Prince Chance was lying on Zavana’s bed, kissing a pillow.

I stifled a laugh as I looked around the room at all the ridules poses everyone was in. It was as if they had fallen asleep on accident and crashed wherever they were.

One by one they all lifted their head and looked around in confusion then regained proper poster.

Zavana ran a hand through her hair and looked at me. She had to blink a couple times before she realised who it was.

“Amber! Oh, you’re awake!” She cheered and stumbled over to me. Probably because her legs were still asleep.

When she bent over to hug me she realised Echo was on the couch, but she was still asleep.

“Echo!” She praised, starting to cry. “You girls had me so worried! I don’t ever want you going on walks by yourselves again!”

“Echo’s, not, awake, yet.” I struggled to breathe, let alone speak, because of Zavana’s monstrous hug. She let go and looked at her. Her face went pale. “Everything okay?”

“Echo’s not awake yet.” She mumbled through trembling lips.

“I just said that.” I whined.

“The curse.” She croaked.

“Please try to make some sense!” I rolled my eyes. “What’s the big deal?”

“You don’t know? Or maybe you don’t remember…” Zavana trailed off; she sat there, staring at Echo.

I opened my mouth to speak when Echo jolted awake.

“Please!” She shouted. She looked around frantically, her eyes consuming her surroundings. “M-Mal! M-M-Maleficent!”

“Echo, Echo!” Zavana said softly, trying to calm her down. “Calm down. Everything’s fine. That witch isn’t here; hasn’t been for fifteen years.”

“Dragon! Curse! Excalibur!” She kept spitting out random words.

“Echo, please! You’re freaking me out!” I cried to her, wrapping my arms around her.

“Don’t do it!” She screamed and leapt off the couch and ran out the door.