The Wishing Princess - Chapter 4

4. Dinner Banquet

A large dinner table filled with food and drink was laid out across the whole room. The guest were all animated speakers. The matter was urgent, they said, due to the push from the Queen. Soldiers from various kingdoms has gathered in a desert three leagues away. The Queen has mobilised her largest army with more on the way. The King and Opa listened politely with what their guests have to say. Some kings with their sons, too, joined in the conversation.

"So, we finally have news as to where the prophesied child will be born. Unfortunately, it seems that the news has reached the Queen's ears, too. Thus, she went with her troops to kill him and we went with our troops to protect him. We must save the child, for he is prophesied  to bring peace throughout the land. We can certainly live with less warrings around here. We get tired of it after a while," said one of the visiting king

"But how do we know that this is the prophesied child, instead of some random ones?" said another king. "I'm not convinced that this is the prophesied child at all!"

"We have been all over this before. Our shaman have said so. Some other shamans from other kinngdom have said so as well, so it is clear that we have the right one. Besides, all the description fits. The landmarks are all there. All that's missing is the red carpet, and I have in mind to supply that myself!"

"But none of the shamans described the child! Only that he will be born this month! We dont even have the day! I'm not saying that there won't be a phophesied child there, but are you sure this is the right one?"

"That's where you're wrong," said a regent. "My king right now is camping there because our shaman has provided us with the day. In deed, in exactly eight days, the child will be born and we shall be saved."

"Eight days? To the day? I'll believe it when I see it!"

"Then see it you will! There is no question, that is the child."

"And what hapens if we missed it by a day? what happens if the child is born on a different day? All this thing will be for nothing!"

"I'm sure the prediction will be correct, and you'll see. As to what happens if the prediction is wrong, why not let our host, the Great Warrior king, to let us know what his opinion is?"

Up until that point, Opa and the King sat quietly, listening to all their guests have to say. The King looks at Opa before speaking. "I think," the King said, "it will be easy enough to leave the area once it's proven that it is the wrong child. But the most important thing isn't the child. It's the perception that the child is the prophesied one."

"Is that right? So if we're wrong, we're doomed! Did I mention to you that the Queen is moving, at this very moment, with her great army in order to kill the child?"

"Yes, and that is why me must act quickly," said the Warrior King. "We should be able to handle them, if we stand united against a common foe."

"And if we're wrong, we're doomed. I trust that I don't need to tell you what the punishment is to go against the Queen? She will kill you in the most horrible manner!"

"Let us not worry about it. There will always be a chance for peace. In the meantime, let me assure you that we will help you anyway we can, but let's eat for now. The food is getting cold."

Indeed, the princess has been quietly serving the food. Now that all the food has been served, she started serving the wine. Swiftly and silently, she moved between the guests to serve the wine. One of the visiting king looked at her in admiration, noting how deftly she moved.

"Is she your daughter?" he asked, addressing the Warrior King. "Too bad she's not a warrior. We can use all the help we can."

The Warrior King smiled at this, for he knows that her daughter is equal to any warrior of the land. Opa, on the other hand, laughed heartily. Opa said to the visiting king, "Don't underestimate her! She is very skilled in fighting skills. I taught her myself!"

"Is that right? Is she a good learner?"

"Of course, she is! Am I not a good teacher?" said Opa, pretending to look insulted. His smile and mischievious eyes betrayed him. Then he suddenly and unexpectedly grabbed the Princess who was at the time walking behind him. He laid her across his lap. The princess was confused, but not for long.

"I have a good technique to train her!" Opa was gloating, though this is actually an act. Opa was not a person to gloat, but no one outside the kingdom knew this. "Everytime she makes a mistake, I spanked her like this!" Opa spanked the princess in the rum *hard*. The princess was shocked! This has *never* happened before! Not with Opa. Not with the King. Not with anybody! "Now princess, what do you think you're doing serving the wine to our guests before you serve me? Do you think that I am of lesser statute than our guests? Have you not notice that I sit in the seat of honor? Now hurry up and fetch me my wine!" Opa pushed the princess up. The princess, very red upon her face in shame, ran to the kitchen. All the guests chuckled at her misfortune.

As soon as the princess ran past the curtain separating the banquet room and the kitchen, the princess wailed, "Oma! Did you see what Opa did? He spa-a-nked me!" The princess was breaking down. She was crying her eyes out. Never was she embarassed in front of so many distinguished visitors!

"Hush!" Oma said, "It's your own fault, Princess! You were too quiet in serving the food!" The princess was still crying, but her sharp mind went into overdrive. This isn't about wine? She looked at Oma expectantly.

Oma, who loved the princess as her own daughter sighed patiently. "Why do you think the King have you wear this dress and have you serve the food to the guests?" The princess looked at Oma. Isn't that because Oma is busy in the kitchen and needed help in serving the food? What about the dress? With all the jewelries drapped around her. A flash of recognition came at the same time as Oma's explanation. "You are not a servant serving food. You are a princess being paraded to potential suitors! You need to look presentable and charming as to attract as many potential mates as possible!"

A wave of understanding came over the princess. It was her father's idea after all. She was a tomboy, concerned much about warfare, that she sometimes forget the she was a girl. She looked down in embarassment.

Oma patiently explained, "That little stunt that Opa did, very clever! I dare say that all eyes will be upon you tonight and this dinner will be remembered and talked about by many people and for a good long time. You will have no trouble finding potential mate, princess." The princess nodded her assent. Oma smiled. "Now wipe your tears and serve Opa his wine."

When the princess went back to the banquet room, her whole demeanor has changed. She is now a beautiful princess, wearing stupendous dress. She floats across the room, gently, silently, but with grace and in a way that commands attention. The Warrior King and Opa were smiling very wide. Opa's smile became even wider when the princess dutifully and respectfully poured Opa his wine. Opa said nothing, but his demeanor was clear that though Opa was very old, he was still a force to be reckoned with. The doubting visiting king nodded his understanding.

As princess walked around serving other kings, one of the prince tried to grab her as Opa did. The princess avoided him easily. The Warrior King laughed at this. He spoke to the general assembly. "No one may have her, those who cannot catch her!"

In response, another prince stood up, barring the princess's way, intent in stopping her. The prince's father pulled him down. "Sit down, son! He meant catching her as with honey, instead of wrestling her down as with boar!" Everybody in the room laughed at the young prince's impetuousness, to his embarassment.

The dinner went very well after that, with a lot of eyes upon the princess. The princess, played her role well, and was sure to be courteous to everybody.

The Wishing Princess - Chapter 3

3. A Christmas Tree

"Must I wear this dress?" asked the Princess. She was comfortable wearing riding pants , looking like a tomboy, rather than wearing an elegant dinner dress. Many layers it has, and somewhat hard to move around in.

"Yes, Princess," Oma said. "Many kings willl attend the dinner tonight and you need to look your best." said Oma. Oma is a female servant who was married to Opa, the greatest warrior of the older generation. She came to the kingdom quite young, and has served since then. The Princess grew up under her care. She was a godmother to the Princess.

"I think that wearing my sword and swing it around will be more impressive. All the Princes can think about is how gallant they are, right? So they will be impressed when I defeat them in sword combat!" said the princess without boasting yet knew full well that her sword skill is near perfect.

"Hush, princess, that is something that you must not do!" chided Oma. "You musn't defeat them in sword combat. You must win their hearts with charm. Your father commands it, and so you must obey!" Oma was draping jewelries around the Princess. So much jewelries was on the Princess. Even Oma donated hers. The Princess was sparkling, just like a Christmans tree.

At last the preparation was complete. The King stopped by and nodded his assent. The Princess looked exactly like a Chritmas tree with her layered green dress and jewelries wrapped around her body.

"Have her serve the food for our guest tonight," said the King. "Oma, you will stay in the kitchen and cook. You make the best meal. My daughter will then serve the food to our guests."

"Yes, my liege," said Oma. Usually she would cook and serve the food, but as there are many guest for the banquet, it is natural for her to be so busy in the kitchen and need another person to serve the food.

"But father," complained the Princess, "I don't want to serve the food. I want to sit by your side and greet our guests!" The Princess looks so disappointed.

"You will not sit beside me," said the King. "Opa will. I need him tonight to deal with other kings from the other kingdom."

"I can handle them as well as anybody," said the Princess. "What would be better that to let me sit there?" asked the Princess. "Opa can sit there as well, if you need him, but I should be with you!"

"Not tonight dear daugher," said the King. "Tonight is not for celebration but for a matter of war. Opa knows war, you do not. So, it is Opa who must be there, and not you. It is not a woman's place to conduct war," the King chided the Princess gently, for he loved her so very much, and it was obvious that it pained him to have to tell her thus, but the King was wise and he knew what needs to be done.

The Princess, too, understand this. "Yes, father. I will do as you say." She curtsied as was common for her to greet her father in public thus.

The Wishing Princess - Chapter 2

2. An Emmisary

A valley. A tundra. A group of riders gallops urgently. Their clothes are of varied colors. It is clear from a single glance that the group comes from different kingdoms. Though they post no flag, nor identification, their cultural icons identified them as distinct and different from each other. Yet, even in the warring times of the era, they act as a single entity.

The riders passed some farmers. The farmers look up from their work, staring at the riders. The riders greeted them with hand gesture signifying peaceful greeting, but otherwise said nothing and keep riding toward their destination. Only when they reached the edge of the town did they slowdown to walking pace.

The citizen of the town stared at the riders, but otherwise said nothing. The town was bustling with activities, of harvesting and celebrating successful harvest, but the riders ignore them all. Upon reaching the wall of the palace, which acts as a castle of sort, the riders stopped by the guards.

"Tell your king that we have arrived," the riders said. "We, the emmisaries of the various kingdoms of the land, bring message that regents to the kings will arrive soon to discuss a matter of importance. One that will determine the fate of your kingdom, as well as ours."

"What can be so important that will determine our fate?" asked the palace guards. Though they are relaxed, there was no question that they are doing their duty splendidly, and will no doubt fight the strangers to the death if need be.

"The Queen has decided to move against us. Against all of us!" the riders said.

The Queen! The most wicked, cruelest of them all. She was the first daughter of her father, yet because she was a women, her kingdom was beyond her control. Her father married many wives, and all met untimely death. So was any other children of the king. All the sons fought tremendous battle and have won more than half the available land.Then the king died, and one by one, the sons were poisoned, assasinated, or otherwise met untimely end, until she was the only one left. She became the ruler by default.

Then the purging started, and she killed half the advisors to the king. She wrestled control rapidly, and destroyed any competition that in a mere months after she inherited the crown, she controlled everything. Only those loyal to her was allowed to live. The rest was publicly executed.

The law states that only men can rule the kingdom. As such, she was only a regent, waiting unil such time that she get married, and will let her husband rule the kingdom. Many proposed, yet none was accepted. It was apparent only after she reached her thirtieth birthday, that she has no intention to marry. That was when she proclaim the rule for herself, and made herself Queen.

She was a brilliant tactician and won many battles since. Her kingdom was the biggest of the land, and now, in her sixties, she has managed to defeat over half the kingdoms of the land. The rest of the kingdom knew that it was only a matter of time before, they too, will be attacked by the bloodthirsty queen, and so, they sought the help and advice of the king who knows no defeat. The king of the Hidden Valley.

The old prune, as those who were not fond of the queen called her, was a menace, and now these riders rode long distances to ask for help. This is merely a friendly gesture. Regents are the ones who made the important decision for the kingdom, and sometimes, even the king will visit other kindoms. Sending out a messenger saying the group wil be expected is merely a courtesy. Usually, the visited kingdom would not know until the whole flotilla arrive on scene.

"Tell your king that the united kings and their regents will visit this kingdom in a few days, and to prepare reception for them. We will discuss of what to do with the old prune giving us problem" said the riders.

"Then that is what we will tell the king" replied the guards. "Make yourself at home. Here, we shall share all our comforts, and we shall be comfortable or be miserable equally."

"Thank you. As there is nothing more we can say, please spare us a stable for our horses, and some beds until our masters come." said the riders.

"Certainly." said the guards, "you will occupy the room reserved for our guest of honor until your king arrive as so to be able to serve your king well in our palace."

The rider nodded their heads in assent and started riding toward the royal stable.

The Wishing Princess - Chapter 1

1. The Prophecy

When troubled times comes across the land,
there will be born a child
one whose gentle nature surpass all
He will grow to be strong
and will one day unite
all the kindoms of the land.

Red cloth shall be laid uopn his feet
for him to walk to the sacred mound
and sang the message of peace
Hear ye of what I have to say
Bring no more hate toward men
Instead bring kindness upon your heart
toward your kindred souls

Let there be no more war
Let there be understanding upon all
So that each men in each kingdom
shall know the meaning of brethen
and live with each other as one
under the guiding star in heaven above

Let there be flowers planted
on the hallowed grounds of peace.
Let there be stones marked
for each kindom of his
For all the kingdoms on the land
is his to rule and command


Such was the common refrain of the land, in an era of constant rift. Wars were common among all the kindom of the land. Many battles were fought under all kind of pretenses. Petty bickerings were common. The life expentantcy of men, under such brutal condition were short. Many died in battle shortly after reaching eligible age. Drafted into war, hastily trained, and fell in battle.

One such kindom lies in the valley nestled among mountains. The steep cliffs protected the kindom well. Furthermore, the kindom is led by a wise and powerful king. He was the greatest king and warrior that has ever lived. Words were whispered among other kings that this king is the  one to be feared. Although the kingdom itself was small, many fierce warriors, trained by the king himself, served the kingdom well.

Due to the size of the land, the kingdom was a small one. Expansion proved to be difficult, and yet the kingdom knows peace throughout many generations. This is not to say that the warriors did not battle. Many times, the people of the kingdom have been requested to help other kingdoms under attack. Usually, the king obliged. And thus, with each successful battle, his renowns increased.

The king has many sons, and one daughter. It is recorded in history that his sons fell in battle, leaving only the daughter. There was something special about the daughter. Indeed, the daughter was known as the wishing princess. The princess, the king's daughter, was famous for making a wish, and have those wishes come true.

When she was 5 years old, the kingdom was experiencing extended drought. The princess wished for rain, and it rained, saving the crops from failure.

When she was seven years old, The kingdom was being invaded by bugs. Many attempts to eradicate the crop eating bugs failed. The princess wished for good bugs, and a natural enemy was found and the resulting new bug migration eliminates the crop eating bugs.

When she was nine years old, she made a selfish wish, and wished for a doll. Every family in the kingdom adored her deeply and each family made a doll to be placed in the place of honor in the house.

When she was eleven years old, there was rift in the neighboring kinddom. She wished for understanding. And once the king send emisaries to the warring kingdoms, an understanding was achieved, and the king gained reputation as the bravest king on the land.

When she was thirteen years old, she wished for the greatest cavalry. And all the soldiers trained hard. The princess trained with them and rode with them, becoming the finest cavalry officer on the land. And yet, she refused the post, accepting a brave soldier to lead.

Her skill with the horse, with the sword, with the gun was without peer. She can outride, out fight, out shoot everybody in the kindom, except the king himself. Already she can outshoot the king. Her riding skill was equal, and it was generaly accepted that she will soon best even the king in swordplay. It was not a secret that many people in the kingdom wished that she was a boy so that she can inherit the kingdom from her father. And yet, she was a girl, a princess. A wishing princess.

It was shortly before her sixteenth birthday that our story starts. A group of riders rode hastily through the canyon, across the wheatfield, toward the royal palace. In truth, the palace is very modest. The royal family did not believe in spending a lot of money putting jewelries. As such, the palace is functional, instead of elegant. It is comfortable, and pleasant to live in, but not much in the decoration department. Walls are bare clays, decorated with weapons, armors, and other various practical items.

The Wishing Princess - Character Sheet 1

The Kingdom of the Hidden Valley

1. The Great Warrior King

The father of the Wishing Princess. His is big and strong. Smart and Wise. He has the body of Conan the Barbarian, smart as Napoleon in battle, loving and gentle to the princess, his last surviving child.

2. The Wishing Princess

Our titular character. All her wishes have come true. Naturally gentle, her talent lies with warring skills. She is as good as any men regarding swordplay and gun play. She learned from the best: Her father and Opa.

3. Opa:

The greatest warrior of past generation. He was second in command to the King's father. He once single-handedly defended a mountain from invading force for 3 days, until help arrived and defeat the enemy. He won Oma as a wife-slave in one of his battle, yet Opa loved Oma dearly, and never mistreated her.

4. Oma:

She came to the kingdom as Opa's spoil of war. She became Opa's wife when Opa married her. They love each other deeply, and they love the princess as if she was their daughter.