FANTASY (WATTYS2018)

CHAPTER 06

Stella...

Ella...

St...

Stella!

I heard distant yelling and jerked my eyes open, breathing heavily. I saw two pairs of anxious eyes on me.

"Stella!" Mr. Ace screamed out my name as he lifted me to sit up. I looked around and realized I was back in that weird cloudy place. What happened?

"What happened? Are you alright?" Venessa asked as she gripped my shoulder hard making me vince in pain.

I stared at the both of them. You tell me what happened!

"You, just suddenly passed out." She said.

Passed out?

"One moment, you were standing tall, and the next you collapsed." I turned to Mr. Ace as he explained.

I... I don't know what happened." My throat burnt as I spoke. I could really use some water right now.

Mr. Ace made me look at him, as he searched my face.

"Wha.. What are you doing?"

"Are you sure you can't remember what happened at all?" He pressed on. I shook my head.

"Then... Why, are you crying?"

What!?

I lifted my hand to my face and sure enough, I felt my cheeks wet. 

Why am I crying?

Mr. Ace and Venessa remained silent as they took turns looking at me equally worried and confused.

Taking a deep sigh, I looked at them.

"I saw her."

Their expression remained the same. So I repeated myself.

"I saw her... Your Q-Queen."

And then, their expression morphed to horror. Mr. Ace , pushed Venessa aside as he gripped me hard. Venessa didn't mind, I'm sure as she seemed in a daze.

"You WHAT!?" My eardrums ached when he yelled.

Now it was my turn to remain silent. Personal space much?

"Stella dear, please. Can you elaborate what you meant?"

Venessa said as she nodded at Mr. Ace to step down.

"like you said, one moment I was here, and the next I was in some alternate universe. People I have no idea of, came into view. There was this huge palace and... and thrones and gowns and guards and maids and...."

"And?"

"And this beautiful, dignified, proud lady with scorching bright scarlet hair and inquisitive Ocean blue eyes." I stated.

"Sophie."

Venessa covered her mouth, as her eyes glistened with unshed tears. It was more than clear she had adored her friend.

"You were there too, as well as Mr. Ace and some nasty ugly Ministers. This little brown haired boy,"

Mr. Ace perked up when I mentioned the boy,

"And the little princess."

"You... saw the princess? Princess Stella?" Venessa inquired.

I nodded and continued.

"I saw glimpses of moments that must have happened a long time back. Till the moment the little girl," I couldn't go any further. The memory still gave me shivers.

The two of them exchanged glances before looking back at me.

"Sweetheart, when you saw these visions, these moments did you perhaps feel anything?" Venessa asked me.

"How... How did you know?"

She gave me a kind smile.

"It wasn't a feeling. More like this weird chest pains. Everytime I saw that lady, or the little girl, I felt my chest squeeze to an extent, it was as if I was suffocating. Do... Do you know why?" I inquired.

"Do you know what happened to our little Princess?"

I nodded. Well I did see what had happened.

"Do you know that she was to be re-incarnated?" Mr Ace stepped forward closing what little space was there between us. I took a step back. His gaze was heavy and uncomfortable. Like he was trying to relate something to me through his eyes.

Venessa on the other hand had a nervous look. She fidgetted with her fingers, playing with her hair nervously.

I couldn't help but feel anxious.

"D-Did she ever come back? Your Princess I mean. You say its been a century. So all this time passed and she's still not... you know, uh re-incarnated or whatever?"

"To this day, there was no sighting of her comeback, until..."

"Until?"

"Until today."

Am I hearing right? So... so the Princess of a century ago is actually alive? She's back?

"Holy cow! This... This is amazing. Alright, she must be an infant but still. She's back!" Why am I feeling so hyped up? This has nothing to do with me. But I couldn't help but feel excited.

"She's a grown girl."

Mr Ace replied with a gentle smile.

"She was born 16 years ago, but The Heart of Lumia sensed her presence only now."

"Okay.. That's even great. From what I recall, she used to be this fiesty, brave and strong little girl. I'm sure she's still got these amazing attributes. You could deffinitely seek her help!"

"We are." Was what Venessa and Mr Ace said in unison.

"Wha... what?"

"The Heart of Lumia was created for the sole purpose of sensing the presence of Princess once she is re-incarnated. As we told you, The Heart shone bright, portraying an image of you." Venessa said looking at me straight in the eyes.

"I... I don't understand. What are you trying to say?" I let out a nervous laugh. What's she saying? The hell is she trying to prove?

Placing her strong hands on either of my shoulder she held me gently.

"Welcome back PrincessStella."