The Princess of MioFabia ( Book One)

The Stolen Crown

The group stood at the edge of the Whispering Woods, a place of legend and fear. The trees were ancient and twisted, their branches so dense they blocked out the afternoon sun. A low, constant hum, like a million faint whispers, emanated from within.

"Chief, we can't go in there," Rain said, her face pale. "The legends say people go mad inside. They get lost in the whispers and never return."

Storm nodded in agreement. "She's right. It's better to risk a fight on the main road than to lose ourselves to that forest."

Ethen crossed his arms, his skepticism warring with a clear sense of dread. "I've heard stories since I was a boy. Not even the Cativo army would dare enter."

Aurora held up a hand, silencing them. The recent ambush and the chilling image from her dream had hardened her resolve. She had to take the safer, less-predictable path. "The Order of Ouroboros is no myth," she stated, her voice firm. "They're hunting us. The open road is a trap, a death sentence. Here, we have a chance. We use the woods as a shield." She turned to face her companions, her eyes meeting each of theirs. "Our enemies expect us to take the easy path, but we're not taking it. We're fighting a war, and war isn't always easy. We go through the woods."

After a tense moment of silence, Rain sighed in acceptance. "Very well, Chief. But we stick together. No one wanders off."

As they ventured into the woods, the whispers grew louder, a cacophony of sound that seemed to speak directly to their minds. The air was heavy and still, and the ground was a damp, spongy carpet of moss and fallen leaves. The trees seemed to lean in, their gnarled branches reaching like skeletal hands. After what felt like hours of travel, they finally stumbled into a small, unexpected clearing.

In the center, amidst the gloom of the forest, stood a crooked, rickety hut. The smoke from its chimney was a vibrant purple, and the walls were adorned with peculiar things—mismatched animal bones, dried herbs, and tiny, glowing mushrooms. On the porch sat an old woman.

She was a funny-looking lady, to say the least. Her dress was a patchwork of every color imaginable, and her hat was a tall, pointed cone made of a bird's nest and twigs. A large, fluffy white cat with three eyes sat on her lap, lazily flicking its tail. She had a mischievous glint in her eyes and a crooked smile on her face.

As the group cautiously approached, she looked up from her bubbling cauldron and let out a cackle. "Well now, it's not every day I get visitors. Especially not you, Princess Aurora Melody Darling, of the House of Miofabia."

Aurora and her group froze. The shock of being addressed by her full name was staggering enough, but the title "Princess" and the name of the ruling house were utterly baffling. Her friends exchanged bewildered glances. What was this old woman talking about?

"My, my," the old woman mused, her voice a singsong melody. "You have no idea, do you? You think you know your destiny, your past, your place in the world... but there's so much more to it than that. Come inside, my dears. I have a story to tell you, a truth about you and your sister, Princess Daisy Marie, that will change everything."

The realization dawned on Aurora, leaving her speechless. She was a princess? The chieftain's daughter from a small, provincial village was actually royalty? The implications of this revelation were so vast and overwhelming that for the first time since her father's death, Aurora felt the ground beneath her feet give way. 

"Sit, sit," Elara cackled, motioning to a series of carved wooden stumps around a low table. "I can see the gears turning in your heads. You think I'm a trick, a demon in disguise. And you're not entirely wrong—but not in the way you think."

Aurora, still reeling, remained standing. "What are you talking about? My father was Chief of Terraportare. I'm a chieftain's daughter."

Elara's three-eyed cat purred, rubbing against her leg. "A chieftain? Oh, sweet child, that was merely a title to keep you safe." She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The King and Queen of Miofabia had two daughters, Princess Aurora and Princess Daisy. But a terrible prophecy foretold that if their enemies, the Blackwood family, ever learned of your existence, a great war would consume the land. Your father, the king's most trusted knight, was entrusted with the most important mission of his life: to hide you and your sister from the world."

The group exchanged bewildered glances. Rain and Storm, who had known Aurora her entire life, were speechless. Ethen simply shook his head, muttering about witchery.

"So, your father raised you in Terraportare, a remote village far from the capital," Elara continued, her voice full of emotion. "He became a chieftain not for power, but for protection. He gave you a normal life, a fake identity, all to shield you from the very prophecy that now consumes you." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Your father didn't die for a title, Aurora. He died protecting his kingdom, his line, and his two princesses—from the very enemy he was trying to hide you from."

As the pieces clicked into place, Aurora's mind raced. Her father's pet names, "piccolo erede" and "principessa coraggioso," suddenly took on a profound new meaning. It wasn't just a father's endearment; it was a constant, subtle reminder of the truth. She also remembered the prophecy given to Daisy, about marrying a man named Jake Blackwood. It was a terrifying premonition now revealed to be a direct link to the Blackwood family, the enemy her family had been hiding from all along.

"So, Daisy's betrayal wasn't just about jealousy," Aurora whispered, her voice trembling. "She was being controlled by them. Or worse, she was one of them."

Elara's grin widened. "That is a story for another time. For now, you must accept who you are, Princess Aurora. Your destiny is not about ruling a kingdom from a throne; it's about reclaiming what was stolen. Your father's legacy isn't a crown for you to wear, it's a burden you must carry."

Aurora felt her fear transform into a fiery resolve. She walked over to Elara and knelt before her. "What must I do now?" she asked, her voice strong and unwavering.

"King Killing Eagle of Cattivo did more than just kill your father," Elara said, her eyes gleaming. "He took your father's crown as a trophy. It is a symbol of your family's reign and a powerful magical artifact. With the crown in his possession, King Killing Eagle believes he is the rightful ruler of all of Miofabia. You cannot take the throne as Queen until you have defeated him and reclaimed the crown. It is your right, your duty, and your destiny."

Aurora stood up and looked at her friends. The doubt and shock were still on their faces, but her gaze was one of pure determination. "We are no longer simply travelers," she declared, her voice ringing with the authority of a true leader. "We are now the Vanguard of the Royal House. We march on Cattivo to take back my father's crown." The news of Aurora's lineage shook the foundations of their group, but in her unwavering resolve, they found the strength to follow. The path ahead was treacherous, but for the first time, she knew exactly what she was fighting for.