as per my request thread, what will be an everlasting and ongoing superramble ..... or one of the best stories ever written that disney can pay me for
as for the format, i tried something newer and simpler in it's presentation, and first off there's no center option so that's out the window
basically having a set number of parts (eight CHAPTERS to each BOOK) and at least a couple of chapters every month, since i have plenty else to be getting on with.
ANY comments are welcome, whether they are good, or bad, or asking why in the great blue yonder are you embarking on such and crazy eights odyssey???
and now, sit back, have a nice warm beverage beside you, and a very open mind i present to you .....
DISNEY KINGDOMS
BOOK ONE
CHAPTER ONE
a wall of thorns.
As the ruined castle rises in the distance, with it's ghastly brazen light atop spitting out lightning bolts from atop, PRINCE PHILLIP rides his steed almost into the ground. Knowing full well the consequences of stopping, as rider pulls the reigns sideways to avoid another searing bolt, he looks back and raises the SWORD OF TRUTH, damning the evil that flies in the face of his reason. His horse snorts as the spiky thorns approaches, and he turns and looks at the oncoming wall of nature, and knows what to do.
The wind begins to pick up.
Bringing the SHIELD OF VIRTUE up to cover himself as he drives the sword forward to extend in size and length, PHILLIP thinks that the fairies did a good job of giving him these powers of truth and all that, as the three of them battle and spark with their own ferocious power combating the lightning from the distance away. PHILLIP draws in his breath and holds it, so determined to run straight into the approaching forest as horse and rider barrel towards it's fate. The sword glows white hot and the shield feels far too heavy to hold, but PHILLIP is steadfast and true …..
the wind blows stronger.
they crash into the forest of thorns and surprisingly sear through it with ease, creating a pathway through, all along with thunderbolts keep reigning down on them. PHILLIP looks up and sees the castle up ahead, being torn away from the blight of the constant forest, and into the clear starry sky. But then the lightning bolts stop, the fairies warn PHILLIP not to stop, and the castle behind them is no longer bathed in eerie green. Continuing through the thorns they race to their objective as it suddenly looms into view clearing the forest, a magnificent structure stands alone on the horizon, as the bridge that connects castle and kingdom is in his sights.
The wind howls into a gale.
PHILLIP dismounts as the fairies gather round him, flittering at his shoulders as they look up and to the sight beholden, a ghostly mist-like figure serenely floating across the sky with lightning echoing around it, as it flies above them and settles down in the last barrier of thorns across the castle entranceway, then forms into the shape of their oppressor. The great witch MALIFICENT stands firm and burns the thorns green.
the wind screams at her.
MALIFICENT defies them and raises her cane into the air, it crackles with evil energy turning the air electric, and the impossible happens. Now all PHILLIP and the fairies need to do is destroy this DRAGON MALIFICENT that stands in the way, he doesn't hesitate and drives his mount forward across the bridge, DRAGON MALIFICENT grins and sends a huge burst of dragon flame at the centre of the bridge. It shatters it into pieces and sends it all flying in directions, PHILLIP brings the shield back up to protect himself from the shrapnel. They ping off the metal with sparks aplenty, as horse and rider gallop toward almost certain doom, the gap in the bridge ever growing closer, but they jump the space as PHILLIP glances down at the blackness below. Unfortunately even this great steed can't jump this length and as it starts to fall short, the fairies realise and shoot their magic at it, suddenly PHILLIP'S face is going from sheer terror to slightly less terror.
With a sound of hoofs onto stone PHILLIP and horse land on the other side, but can't celebrate yet as DRAGON MALIFICENT shoots green flame at PHILLIP, barely bringing up the SHIELD OF VIRTUE up to block the deadly fire. He peers round it and looks into the eyes of the creature, it's nostrils flaring and it's ghoulish tongue licking between it's very sharp teeth, PHILLIP knows time is of the essence as the fairies fly to his sword and fire their magic onto it. But this wind is now a storm unlike he's felt, picking up dirt and dust and pebbles and thorns and everything else that's not tied down, even DRAGON MALIFICENT has trouble keeping her giant clawed feet on the ground as she balances herself with those really big wings of hers. The SWORD OF TRUTH is now fully magicked up and PHILLIP jumps off his mount and prepares to throw it deep into the heart of this monster …..
PRINCE PHILLIP
now SWORD OF TRUTH fly swift and true, that evil die and good endure …..
THEN IT HAPPENED
THE CHANGE HAPPENED
a magnificent burst of light emanates from high above in the night sky, way beyond even the sky and that is what causes everyone to stop and look up, men and horse and dragon and fairies. And this storm force wind is still getting stronger as something approaches, a great wave of something is racing towards where they are, well it approaches where everyone and everything is. This is enough for DRAGON MALIFICENT and suddenly decides that this is not the place to be, and driving her mighty wings a few times she lifts off and starts ascending into the night sky trying to get as far away from whatever is coming.
That's also the case for PHILLIP as he snaps out of his gazing and jumps onto his horse, he grips the reigns and demands the steed ride towards what was his objective and stampedes into the castle entrance, sensibly the fairies all decide that this is a good idea too and fly as fast behind him. They also decide to protect themselves and PHILLIP and create a protective bubble spell to surround themselves, and just in time too as the great wave crashes through the air and envelopes everything in sight, it blows trees and bushes and buildings and bridges and castles and everything down with an earth shattering scream ….. as if millions of voices cried out …..
it barely registered to PHILLIP that he was lying on the ground, covered in all sorts of debris, a few thorn vines a few pebbles some dirt. But what he can't register is where he is, he jolts up and looks around and thanks himself for it still being night time, but then out of the corner of his eye sees a form. He scrambles in the dirt and finds the SWORD OF TRUTH and desperately stands up with it in hand, and sees something formidable in front some meters ahead of him ….. MALIFICENT? With nerve endings already at their breaking point he takes one step towards the witch who almost took everything away from him, but in the ether another voice calls out to him, and demands what he is doing!
UNKNOWN VOICE
PHILLIP, are you alright?
It is a familiar voice.
it is such a familiar voice.
PHILLIP stops suddenly not even beginning to comprehend.
UNKNOWN VOICE
PHILLIP! What in the kingdom of the three are you doing?
his mind is all over the place, tries to will himself to skewer MALIFICENT but somehow he can't move his leg forward. Then he relaxes as a familiar hand is placed on his shoulder and all a sudden his mind goes blank, and slowly turns himself around shakily, and makes eyes contact with his one true love. A golden haired beauty who is apparently awake and standing right there, right there in front of him in a blue dress that seems so familiar, and some fairies fluttering on her shoulder. He is about to utter something when his steed clunks him on the head and whinnies, PHILLIP winces in pain.
PRINCE PHILLIP
AURORA?
He looks directly into PRINCESS AURORA'S eyes and stares into their soulful pools, he can't leave them but something is tugging at him, she smiles at him warmly.
PRINCESS AURORA
you may be a great husband but as MALIFICENT said, not such a great horseman!
MALIFICENT
and I thought you were the kingdom's greatest rider?
he again reacts by bringing the sword up, his stance shaky but growing in strength, even the fairies are not sure if to do anything..
PRINCESS AURORA
it's okay PHILLIP ….. she's not our enemy anymore!
Staggered by this statement PHILLIP steps back but that nagging tugging is still there, his poor brain simply cannot comprehend anything at this moment, and yet that annoying tugging persists as He swats it away.
MICKEY MOUSE
hey! I thought you were on our side?
PHILLIP turns and looks to see where this strange exclamation is coming from his eyes cannot believe what is in front of him. For there stands what looks like a rather sizeable duck, a lankly looking creature with a long snout and floppy ears, and what appears to be a giant round eared mouse! All three are apparently dressed in the outfits of the royal guard, his horse whinnies again.
PRNCESS AURORA
it's alright PHILLIP, this is where we are, the KINGDOM OF THE THREE. Everything is fine, apart from you falling off, but don't fret my dear as the fairies explained everything to us.
PRINCESS AURORA goes up to him and hugs him, she leans in further and gives him a gentle kiss, and whispers in his ear.
PRINCESS AURORA
fall of your horse again, and we won't be married anymore!
Then playfully pushes him in the shoulder as she laughs, the three strange creates also laugh and move away, but it's MALIFICENT who stands there stoic. PHILLIP turns to her still with sword in hand but very limply. He tries to say something but MALIFICENT suddenly takes the sword into her hands.
MALIFICENT
i'll take this ….. after all, I can't have anyone swinging this about, I will put this in a safe place while you recover, along with the SHIELD OF VIRTUE.
Then unbelievably she presents it to the fairies who take it from her, then they flutter away with it into the castle.
MALIFICENT
you must realise PHILLIP, this world has changed and is very different from the one you inhabited before, I will try to explain it to you but will let you recover from the obvious shock. And anyway my prince, my days of trying to kill your wife the PRINCESS AURORA BRIAR ROSE are over!
and as his former enemy leads away the totally bemused PRINCE PHILLIP, AURORA looks on and smiles watching them walk into the castle, and looks up to the sky …..
….. at the MAELSTROM above that spins without sound and effect, and it's companion, a small barely made out shape that glitters golden like a seminal diamond in the sky …..
….. and an indecipherable glint of something flicks in her eyes!