Fairy tale

-

Once upon a time, when fairies and humans lived together, there was a handsome and young prince, who didn't want to become king yet. He said, he's too young to rule over a whole kingdom, and he had no desire to sit on the throne, especially alone, since he had no fiancé, that could meet his expectations. All the girls, princesses and maidens were not good enough for him, every one of them had some strange habit, or they were just simply not pretty enough. His father didn't say anything, thought he will grow up and forget this, but it really seemed like the next king will have no wife, so one day the old king called for his son.

" Son, you can't continue this. I can understand you couldn't find a girl for yourself in this country but you should look around, maybe there's someone who can match you in other kingdoms. Don't come back until you find yourself a wife."

With this, the young prince left his kingdom to find a girl suitable for him. His path crossed a huge dark and endless forest and he couldn't find the way out. The night fell upon him and he was completely lost.

" What will I do? I wasn't able to at least visit other countries, but I'm lost in this forest and cannot find the way out. I don't want to die yet."

" I can help you, if you can pay the prize." Came a rusty and scary voice from the woods.

" Who are you? If you want to help me, show me your face!"

" Hah! Foolish human. You're lost in the darkest forest of the world, alone far from anyone and yet you don't want to accept the help I offer you?"

" If you really want to help me, show me your face. Or you have something to hide?"

For a long moment nothing could be heard, then an old, wrinkled witch came out from the woods. The prince was not someone who could be scared easily, but even he stepped back in surprise and disgust.

" Here I'm." the witch crooked a smirk.
" What would be your prize?"

" Oh it's nothing for someone like you. All you have to do, is just bring me one flower. One tiny little flower from a long abandoned garden. I hope you don't mind doing this little favor for an old woman." She smiled with her broken teeth and the prince could feel the air froze around him.

" Okay, if I can find it I will bring it to you. Now will you help me out?"
" Of course, of course" creaked the old hag " Just follow me and you will be out in no time."

And so was it. When the prince could see the light from outside he didn't even turned back to thank the old witch her help.

As he continued his journey he arrived in a dark city where everyone was wearing black and grey, and everyone looked really gloomy and sad. The prince rented a room in the inn and asked around why are these people so depressed.

" Didn't you hear? Today is the birthday of the king's daughter who disappeared before she turned 5. It's a national day of mourning. Where did you come from that you don't know it?"

" I came from a far away kingdom." Answered the prince in hurry because he decided to rescue this princess. Maybe she worth it. He went straight to the palace to ask out the king and the queen.

" It's noble from you trying to save our daughter, but many tried before you and many failed. If you still want to go, our wizard will help you."

So the prince went to the wizard to ask for help.

" Oh, a new candidate to save the princess. I can tell you where is she most probably but you have to get there on your own. She's in an ancient ghost town where once a legendary dragon lived, protecting the world's most beautiful maiden in its castle. One day a brave knight came, killed the dragon and took the maiden. The dragon couldn't forgive itself to have lost its treasure so it remained as a ghost, searching for the maiden and kidnapping beautiful young girls, as it thinks they are her."

" So there are more princesses there?" asked the prince a little confused.

" Most probably. But no one knows for sure what happens after they are brought to the ghost castle. I can show you where it is and give you the weapons you might need, but I cannot guarantee you will survive and achieve your noble goal."

With these words left the dark city the young prince...