Best Of Beauty

The Journey

      The next morning, I set off to the coal mine to see if possibly I was the maiden that was allowed to enter. It was quite the hike getting up the southern mountain. The mine was on the highest peak.  I finally made it to the top, and by then I was exhausted. I was anxious to see if I could enter, so I immediately rushed to the entrance. Before I entered, I prayed silently that it would work. Then, I started to walk into the mine. Suddenly, I felt a chill down my back. I got oddly dizzy, and fell onto the ground. As I got up, I realized I was in the cave. As I stood up, I heard a strange voice. No, not a voice. A low moaning. I wondered what it could be. Not shocked anymore, I went to find out why I was the only one that can enter the cave. It didn't take long before I found out. There was a strange mirror in the corner of a very small chamber. As I walked towards it, I actually did hear a voice. It was the mirror." What was that?" I asked. "It  is I". said the mirror." The god of curses." " Why are you here?" I asked. Then it was silent. I heard no reply from the mirror. I then saw a shimmering turquoise object on a table in the corner. It had not been there before. I started to walk towards it. As I reached to pick it up, my whole body felt as if I were sitting in cold water. I turned to look in the mirror and was shocked by my appearance. I was as ugly as a troll. I panicked and looking back at the object I realized that it was the ugly emerald. I had to reverse the curse. Then the mirror spoke again. "To reverse this curse, you will have to find the forest witch. It will be quite the journey. There will be hints on the way to help you to find her. But this task will be hard. I am giving you three days to find her.  If she is not found by then, you will remain ugly.