The Princess of MioFabia ( Book One)

Father Leaves

"Come on, Daisy girl!" Aurora called out, rushing excitedly up the hill. "We don't have all day!" She bounded ahead, leaving her younger sister to trail behind.

"I'm coming," Daisy whined, finally reaching the top and flopping down. "Aurora, why do I have to do all the hard work? We could just have a villager do it for us. We're the daughters of the chief, after all."

Aurora turned, looking her sister straight in the eye. "Daisy, you complain about everything Father asks us to do. We're just making his favorite meal. Besides, we shouldn't treat the villagers like servants." Daisy fell silent, but Aurora sighed. "Fine. Go run off with your friends. I'll carry both baskets of lamb meat home myself." Before either of them could move, a familiar voice called their names from the village below.

In unison, the sisters shouted that they were on their way and rushed home. Aurora was the first through the door. "We're back!" she announced, as a breathless Daisy stumbled in after her, speechless.

"Daisy, my darling girl, what's wrong?" their mother asked with concern.

"Oh, nothing, Mother," Daisy replied, catching her breath. "I was just... thinking. May I invite Jake to dinner with the family tonight?" Before their mother could answer, Jake Blackwood emerged from the music room.

"I'm already here," he said with a grin, and Daisy gasped in delight, leaping into his arms.

"We invited this brave lad on our stroll," their father announced, entering the room. "And we invited someone else, too."

Suddenly, Kevin Peacemaker appeared, walking directly toward Aurora. "Welcome home, Aurora," he said warmly. He hugged her and kissed her cheek.

"Hey, Kev. Glad you're alive after living inside that 'Magic Shack' all day," Aurora joked, and they both laughed.

After the girls prepared their father's favorite meal, the group enjoyed a wonderful dinner. Afterward, Daisy and Jake cuddled together and fell asleep in each other's arms, her head on his shoulder and his cheek resting on her hair. Meanwhile, Aurora and Kevin went for a stroll into the forest.

"Aurora, I have something really important to ask you," Kevin said as they walked about a half-mile from the village.

Aurora stopped and looked at him. "Of course, Kev. Anything. As long as it doesn't involve feeding the flying pigs again—that was a heck of a task." They shared a laugh, and the next moment, Aurora saw Kevin on one knee. He held out a silver band with a red ruby in the middle.

"Aurora Melody Darling, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" he asked with confidence. Aurora was speechless for a moment before she finally said yes. He slipped the ring onto her finger, and they hugged, holding each other tightly.

Suddenly, a growl echoed through the forest. They both drew their weapons, standing back to back. A moment later, a scream pierced the air from the direction of the village.

"It's Daisy! Something's happening!" Aurora cried. She let out a signature call, and Iceberg, her beautiful white horse, galloped out of the trees and stopped in front of her. She leapt onto his back and held out a hand for Kevin.

"Kevin, hop on," she said.

He took her hand and climbed up behind her, saying, "Well, here I go again." As they rode toward the village, a terrifying sight met them: the Army of Cativo, with eight hundred soldiers, was attacking. Aurora and Kevin dismounted and joined the battle. Iceberg, now in his powerful dragon form, breathed fire in a circle around the fight, trapping the attackers until Aurora gave him the all-clear.

After the battle, Aurora found her father, who was still fighting. She had single-handedly killed 260 of the remaining 480 soldiers. "My dear daughter," he said, pulling her into a hug. "You always come at the right time, when we need you most."