Enchanted

It was a rainy night. People were rushing to their homes.
In this crowd, Aoi was running away from home. Raindrops were hiding her tears.

She thought about her mother's words "If our company is sold, our debts would be payed". But who would buy it?

She snapped out of her thoughts and realized that she was on a unknown road. There was no one around.

She looked at the sky and prayed for a miracle. Just then she saw a ship sailing across the sky. She laughed sarcastically thinking that she has gone mad.

Well she was drenched. She was stressed. So she passed out.

Aoi opened her eyes and found herself on that ship in the clouds.

She heard someone say "Master would be happy seeing the snack for his pet minotaur". She got scared.Dream or not, I need to escape.

Just then a portal opened and her eyes closed due to brightness. The ship vanished into it.

After opening her eyes, she saw a beautiful sight. Crystal blue waterfalls, tall trees, shining blue moon and different coloured stars.

Aoi snapped out of her daze and thought of escaping. There wasn't another way aside from jumping off of the ship and she impulsively did just that when nothing else came to mind.

She thought that she'll die for sure by jumping from such a height but instead she bounced off of a surface and hit the ground. Lucky for her there was a huge bouncy rock in the way. Wait ... Bouncy? Rock?

Aoi got up and touched that rock. It was soft. But it looked solid. She looked around and saw small fruits hanging from trees. She was hungry. She hesitated to eat them. They could be poisonous.

Taking risk, Aoi took a bite from a fruit which tasted good. She didn't felt any sickness so she decided to eat them. She noticed that the fruits took the taste of any dish she imagined.

Aoi was sleepy so she decided to sleep on the soft rock. She hoped that when she opened her eyes, she would be out of this enchanted land.

When she woke up, she expected to be in her room not on the rock-bed. The reality of the situation dawned on her.

The sky was now bright, indicating day but there wasn't any Sun. Instead the moon was pink and was radiating pinkish-yellowish light. The weather wasn't hot neither cold.

She started walking to look for an exit.
After sometime, she was out of the forest and could see people now.

People wore beautiful clothes and were walking and talking happily. It seemed like there was no one sad here. She started to explore the area.

Suddenly, trumpets echoed followed by horses. Aoi couldn't understand why everyone was bowing down. Of course she didn't bow down and found it ridiculous.

A guard in armour stopped his horse, got down and pointed his sword towards Aoi. She got scared. She was walking around before and now this. So her legs gave up.

The guard shouted "how dare you not to bow before the king?! I shall punish you by death!". Aoi was terrified. This is the end.

His sword stopped just above her head when a thundering voice yelled "stop!". Her saviour walked towards her and held her chin which made her look at him. He was a devilishly handsome man.

Their eyes have met, taking only moments for feelings to ignite.

"No one ever did that. I never gave anyone the reason to do so. So why?” he asked. Aoi broke down. Crying, she said "I don't know what's going on. I want to go home".

"What's your name?”.
"Aoi Shindo".
"I'm Michael Tepes, the king of this land". He placed his hand on her head.
"I can see your memories of how you got here. Come with me, I'll solve your problems". He gave her his hand and she took it.

Michael's palace was so magnificent that it couldn't be described in words. Aoi was amazed. He was enjoying her expressions.

A boy wearing a wizard-like outfit appeared and greeted him. "Robin, ask royal witch Amanda to prepare to send this lovely lady back to her world". His statement made Aoi blush.

"But she's out of the palace to get ingredients for a potion. She'll be back in two months".
" Hmm.... Then we'll have to wait for her. Robin prepare a room for the lady". Bowing, Robin disappeared into thin air.

"I don't want to be burden on you. I can wait somewhere else". "Nonsense! And where would you even go?". That shut her up.

For two months, Michael and Aoi got to know each other. They enjoyed each others company a lot. He showed her his world which was amazing.

They were talking in the garden when witch Amanda appeared right in front of them.
Amanda apologized to king for her absence and transported them to her magic room.

Amanda opened the portal for her return."Through this portal, you'll go back to the same time and place you were taken from."
Aoi didn't knew what to feel. Happy to see her mother or sad for leaving Michael.

Michael held her hand "Aoi the time I spent with you was my happiest. Please stay with me".
"I feel the same way Michael but my mother needs me. I have to go". 

With tears in their eyes, they said their goodbyes. She went in the portal. Michael cried for his lost love.

****

Aoi's eyes opened in the hospital. Her mother ran to inform the doctor.

Was it a dream? An hallucination? Nevertheless, she cried for her lost love.

Later her mother came. "I was very worried when I found you on that road. What were you thinking?"
Aoi stayed silent.

"I have good news. Your father's ex-competitor's son is buying our company. He's offering a good amount".
Aoi was surprised.
"What's his name?"
"His name is Michael Tepes".

The End