Kingdom's Queen

Act 2: 3- Daniel's POV

"If I ever went back to being a princess, or queen, would you come with me?" She says as she curls herself into her blanket. I look over at her, sitting down on my bed.

"I mean... I have to, right? It wouldn't be fair if you got to go without me, without our family. And who would take care of you, right?" I smile weakly. "Why would you go back anyway?"

"It's just a question, Daniel. I have no reason to go back." She sighs, turning to face the wall. "But you could be my bodyguard."

I laugh quietly, "I would be an AMAZING bodyguard."

"Even though I don't need protection." I hear her whisper as she nods off to sleep...

Something I've noticed a long time ago is I have problems, mentally. I may be a happy person and I may love to read, but that doesn't mean I'm smart.

But my sister? She's the smartest. She taught me to read, cook, clean, fight, have fun... She's always so confused, tired, and worried, that's supposed to be my job, I'm the older one. I don't know a whole lot about what she's gone through, but I know it's a lot.

Castro always used to tell me about when he met her, how many people came to yell at her for something she didn't do. All of that, so much stress, can break someone. I'm surprised she's holding a full personality...

I know she uses her magic to hold herself together. It's obvious when you look close enough. I like to imagine her magic brought us together after being true blood siblings in a past life, raised together for our entire childhoods. She's my sister, I know it.

And other times, her stories about the Five Kingdoms... They're so magical. Traveling to each castle, making new friends, experiencing so many things. I'd like to do that one day, but for now, I'm good here with Abram and Castro.

I stand up and walk to my sister, adjusting her blanket so she's wrapped tightly. I pick up a music box from my bedside, winding it up quickly. I set it down next to her head, softly playing. I settle back, sitting on the floor, watching her.

The music calms her, I don't know what tune it is. When we heard it for the first time, she ran over to examine the box. She didn't have enough to get it, but I got it for her birthday, whenever it was. It helps her sleep more peacefully, away from nightmares she might have.

She used to have them almost every night at first, and they got worse over time. Waking up in a cold sweat every few hours must've been exhausting.

She wasn't loud, but it kept me up not knowing what scared her. I want to make sure she's comfortable, and that she's sleeping safe and sound.

Sometimes she'll talk to someone in her sleep, Winston. I don't know how she knew him, but I know he's the Whimsy prince. We went to his funeral, and my sister cried a ton.

... Nightmares are weird. I don't ever have dreams, let alone nightmares. Nothing happens when I sleep, only short darkness. Castro says it's because you need to have fears and likes, but I like my family and I don't like being away from them. So shouldn't I have dreams about them?

I'll have a nightmare eventually, I know I can. Everyone gets scared of something, even me...

Maybe my dream will be about something sad. This one time, I had some sort of dream about my mother.

When I was young, my mother brought me to the Five Kingdoms for a vacation. She brought me to the Moda woods and told me we were going to play hide and seek. I counted for so long until I realized she was never going to say she was hiding. I looked around for hours, I couldn't find her.

I knew she was struggling for money, struggling to care for me, but I didn't think she'd do that. I don't blame her, even though everyone tells me I should...

I remember waiting on a bench in a park, waiting for someone to stop and ask me why I was waiting. Or for my mother to come back and take me home. But when someone came, they weren't a good person. They took me away and he did... some bad things.

Then I got lost. I managed to make it to a different kingdom when Abram found me. He promised he'd never let anything happen to me. He's my father now, and he will be until I-

"Daniel? What are you doing?" I jump, looking up to see my sister's face squinting to see me. "Are you ok?"

"Sorry, I dropped something. I couldn't see it and accidentally started daydreaming." I chuckle, looking around for something on the floor. Then I stand up with a small box in my hand.

"What's in the box?" She leans in my direction.

"A surprise." I toss the box back. "Goodnight." I hurry back into my bed.

"You were staring at me." She mutters, yawning.

"Was I? Sorry, I had no idea." I lie, wrapping my blanket over my head. I peek through, watching her fall back asleep.

She's always so energetic, even though she always looks so tired.

I hope one day she gets what she deserves. Going back to her kingdom, her castle, her real family...

I could even go with her, and so could Castro and Abram. We would spend all day together and play all sorts of games and we'd be the best rulers in the history of the universe. I know she would improve the kingdom to its full potential. And I would stay by her side as her bodyguard, protecting her from all danger. Just like she's done with me.

My sister is the best person... I hope she finds that out one day.