Good Knight

Prologue

Once upon a time, as good stories always begin, in a far away kingdom, where they often take place, there lived a handsome Prince, a beautiful Princess, and a brave knight. These are not the heroes of said story. Prince Misereoux; that's pronounced Miz-er-o, is the Prince of Nod, the kingdom where all your happy and good dreams reside.

You know those happy, feel-good dreams you have in your sleep that make you wake up with a smile on your face? Prince Misereoux [Miz-er-o] is responsible for creating those. No, he's not the Sandman, but one day he will be. It's his birth right. The current Sandman is his father, King Somnolent.

The beautiful Princess is from a neighboring kingdom called Evanore, which is where the Tooth Fairies live. Princess Peppermint is the heir to the Tooth Fairy kingdom. No, she's not The Tooth Fairy, she's A Tooth Fairy. Her parents just happen to be the king and queen of all Tooth Fairies and she will be Queen after them. No one fairy could make so many visits in one night.

Sir Theodore will become a knight of Nod this morning. The knights of Nod are an ancient brother and sisterhood that are sent out into the human realm to protect children from the Nightmares. A tactic they have perfected over the centuries is disguising themselves as their child's favorite toy, a toy the child can't even sleep without, so they can always be by their child's side while they sleep. When the Nightmares come, they can remove their disguise in order to do their job. Protect good dreams at all costs and above all, protect their child.

The hour of Theodore's knighting ceremony arrived. He entered the throne room proudly and kneeled down before the King. The current members of the knighthood were assembled alongside the throne. A congregation of the kingdom and more were present. Prince Misereoux [Miz-er-o] observed from the side. King Somnolent retrieved a sword and stepped forward.

"Do you, Theodore, swear to never associate with enemies or traitors? And do you, Theodore, swear to always defend your charge and protect your kinsmen?" he recited.

"I so solemnly swear," Theodore replied. King Somnolent dubbed him on each shoulder with the sword.

"I dub thee, Sir Theodore of-" but the King was interrupted by gusts of wind and flickering lights. The congregation cried out in distress. Then . . . he entered. The handsome Prince, the beautiful Princess and the brave knight may not be the heroes of the developing story, but every good story has to have a fantastic villain.

Grendelmere is the Prince of Nightmares. You know those unpleasant dreams that intrude on your sleep and make you wake up screaming or crying? Prince Grendelmere is responsible for creating those. You're right, he's not the boogeyman per se, but there was one before him. He found him, he met him, he overthrew him after banishment from Nod. Yes, he hails from Nod originally. His father, also King Somnolent, which would make Prince Misereoux [Miz-er-o] his big brother.

"Well, well, well . . . was my invitation lost in the mail?" he asked. Grendelmere turned to Sir Theodore and observed the new knight.

"Shouldn't you be off in the shadows somewhere creating Nightmares?" Misereoux intervened. Grendelmere gave his brother his attention.

"However, my brother's presence is more required than mine," he gestured toward Misereoux, "I must say, at the moment I do feel like that little cinder girl. Her legend is vast across the kingdom of Muse."

The kingdom of Muse is ruled by The Fable Keeper. It is a kingdom where all mankind's imagination resides. The Fable Keeper helps create and care for the creatures and people created by dreamers in the human world and dreamweavers within the dream world. The kingdom of Muse also trades with Nod.

"I believe you're confusing her with that Nightmare you have the nerve to insist is called a Fairy Godmother. What kind of monster puts a curse on an innocent baby?" Misereoux argued.

"I would," Grendelmere sneered. He cringed at his statement. "I came bearing a gift for our new addition to the knighthood." He tucked his fingers beneath Sir Theodore's chin.

"No!" Misereoux cried. Grendelmere rolled his eyes. He looked up at his father.

"Perhaps you should reconsider your assumptions of my actions," he insisted. King Somnolent hesitated. He looked over at his eldest son, silently urging him to back off. Then he looked down at the young man he'd just knighted.

"Sir Theodore, rise," he said. The knight obeyed the King's order. Grendelmere smirked with satisfaction like a spoiled child who'd just gotten his way. He turned to the congregation.

"You know me well as the Prince of Nightmares. I am the creator of monsters under the bed and bring life to shadows in the night. But it is days like these that are about peace and we all are one. Given the celebration in particular this morning, I think it's only appropriate to give the gift of great bravery. Besides, what man deserves knighthood without courage? But, in my opinion courage is ignorance. And so, upon the first doubt of Penelope Pimm, Sir Theodore will lose all his fine courage and be imprisoned by the Nightmares, a prison from which he will never break free of!" Grendelmere declared. Sir Theodore drew his own sword with determination to avenge himself.

"Sir Theodore! No!" the King shouted. Grendelmere turned to the vengeful knight and raised a fistful of dark dream sand. He quickly blew it out of his hand, into Sir Theodore's face. He dropped his sword and fell to his knees and continued to collapse to the floor, trembling in pain. Grendelmere reached down and tucked his fingers beneath his chin again, forcing him to look up at him.

"One day, every knight of Nod will lose all their fine courage. One day, all the knights of Nod will be mine to break," he promised. Then he looked up at the other knights. "Let him be an example." Misereoux stepped down from the throne.

"Grendelmere! You will fix this at once!" he ordered. He rose to his feet once more and gave a cold and deathly stare to the Prince of Nod.

"And as for you, dear brother of mine, I shall burden you with the curse of the inability to fall in love! Your heart will weaken for no one!" Grendelmere raged as he pointed at Misereoux. The curse striking him, he winced and clutched his chest.

"Grendelmere please!" King Somnolent begged. He turned his bone chilling gaze to him now. It was he who had banished him in the first place. His vengeance should be only directed towards him, but Grendelmere had bigger plans and couldn't be bothered with small little paybacks. He smirked with satisfaction at his work, but all was not complete.

He knew the remedy for Prince Misereoux's curse was that of the kiss of true love. Prince Misereoux was already engaged to and in love with the beautiful Princess Peppermint. Grendelmere began his departure when the princess conveniently stepped forward, heavy with grief.

Sad as she was, she remained graceful in her walk to the center of Grendelmere's attention. The room was silent, anticipating her interruption. The princess nervously fidgeted with her engagement ring. King Somnolent acquired an expression of sympathy for her. Even Sir Theodore hung his head low in disappointment for her. However, Prince Misereoux showed no emotion.

Once again, Grendelmere raised a fistful of dark dream sand and blew it out of his palm, into Princess Peppermint's face. Though cries of worry came from the crowd, the princess did not fall to her knees and collapse to the floor, trembling in pain like Sir Theodore. She did not cringe and clutch her chest like Prince Misereoux. She simply just appeared to be dizzy. From that day forward, Princess Peppermint couldn't remember a thing about Prince Misereoux.

Her amnesia grew worse as the years passed. Grendelmere's curse was safe from breaking. From that day forward, Prince Misereoux couldn't love. His dream creating days were over, for who could create passionately without love? King Somnolent feverishly searched for a counter curse, and if not a counter curse, then a new heir. From that day forward, Sir Theodore struggled with the fear of the day his child would first doubt him and he'd be surrendered to a world of terrible fears forever.