Beauty and Beastly

The river ran backwards on the day the Queen vanished. Not just the river, the entire world ran backwards for a brief moment, taken aback as they watched the hopeful Queendom crumble.

Where, oh where can the queen be! She sits on a raft of gossamer feathered dreams, as she floats away on the river of disappointment. The river in its shame, flows far away, bound for a place where hope lifts the spirit and tells of a world where nothing is as it seems. Evil wizards and warlocks spin imaginary webs of deceit, planting seeds of discontent and trickery as the world burns and the people seethe with anger and disgust.

+++Before this awful, dreadful and terrible occurrence...

The King had once before ruled, his hopeful subjects looking towards prosperity and riches beyond their wildest dreams. The man was wealthy, surely he would find a way to lift the people to great heights, he would be forever placed upon a grand pedestal.

Alas! T'was not to be. The monstrous king took away their rights, burned their dreams to ashes, left them most disappointed and still poor as church mice.

The duped subjects felt like those Catholic and Orthodox priests who scrupulously prevent any crumb of the sacrament of Eucharist (the bread which is understood to be Christ's body) from falling on the altar or to the ground, leaving the wretched church mice not a crumb to feed on. Oh, we have now become “as quiet as church mice”, crumbless, the people wailed.

With pick-axe, brooms, pitchfork, sticks and stones...they ran the king out of town. The evil king stole confidential secrets with which he tried to bribe his way back into power. His rich cronies took his side, hid him away and soon he was absolved of blame, though he was a s guilty as sin.

Could such a king, lacking in morals and caring not for anyone but himself ever regain the throne?

The Queen became hopeful. She rallied the people, hope soared as every soul hoped to once more be free to walk the paths of their choosing.

Months, years passed. A new king had ben chosen. But the new monarch was unwell. He realized that he could no longer serve the people and choose a Queen to represent him on behalf of his subjects.

Was there new hope...the world asked as it looked on. For woe be unto the people, woe to the world, if the king should ever return. He had friends in high and dubious places, powerful friends who would rally around, plot, plan and usurp the power by whatever devious means necessary.

The gracious and wise monarch, Queen Seraphina. Her reign was to be one of prosperity and harmony, her subjects flourishing under the gentle touch of her leadership. Yet, even in the most idyllic of kingdoms, shadows lurk, and the land of Mercano was no exception.

Among the queen's court were warlocks and wizards, their hearts twisted with envy and ambition. Led by the cunning and devious Muskdred, they conspired in secret, weaving dark spells and casting incantations to undermine the queen's authority. Their goal was not only to seize power but to reshape the kingdom in their own malevolent image.

Dissent spread as Queen Seraphina remained vigilant, her intuition sensing the gathering storm. Yet, despite her wisdom and the loyalty of her people, the queen's trust in her advisors proved to be her undoing. Muskdred and his followers, though skilled in the art of deception, did not cloak their true intentions behind masks of loyalty and feigned allegiance. They paraded it as wholesale malevolence and entitlement.

One fateful night, under the cover of an eclipse, the warlocks and wizards unleashed their dark magic. The castle, once a bastion of light, was enveloped in an eerie glow as shadows danced upon the walls. The queen, roused from her slumber, faced her treacherous advisors with a heart heavy with sorrow.

"Why do you betray me?" she asked, her voice laced with disappointment.

Muskdred, his eyes gleaming with malice, stepped forward. "Your reign is over before it even begins, Seraphina. Mercano needs leaders of true power, not bound by the limitations of compassion and kindness".

With a wave of his hand, the queen was stripped of her powers, her regal aura dimming as the dark magic took hold. Her loyal subjects, bound by enchantments, could only watch helplessly as their beloved queen was dethroned.

Banished to the outskirts of the kingdom, Queen Seraphina wandered the desolate lands, aided by the river. Her heart ached for the people she could no longer protect. The once vibrant fields lay fallow, and the rivers, once teeming with life, ran dark and sluggish. The land mirrored her despair, a kingdom lost to the shadows.

Despite her desolation, Seraphina's spirit remained unbroken. She found solace in the hidden groves and ancient forests, seeking the wisdom of nature and the guidance of the spirits that dwelled within. As the seasons turned, she regained her strength, her determination hardening like tempered steel.

In her exile, Seraphina gathered allies...those untouched by the warlocks' corruption. Together, they forged a plan to reclaim the throne and restore the light to Mercano. With courage and determination, she will lead her loyalists into battle, confronting Muskdred and his dark followers in a clash that could last far through the ages.

The fight would be fierce, Seraphina's stalwart heart and the unity of her allies may one day turn the tide. The dark magic would be broken, and the warlocks' reign of terror come to an end. Can Queen Seraphina reclaim her crown and stand once more as the rightful ruler of Mercano.

Her disappointment gave way to hope, her sorrow to triumph. Seraphina vowed to rebuild her kingdom, stronger and more fortified than before. The wise and compassionate queen, arose anew, igniting the power of light over darkness.

Ahead lies the fight of her life!