This story was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were pre-selected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT) and were included for each section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text. To start the story from the beginning, go to https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4443.
When last we met in Part X – Xylophone:
Using the magic power of the blue flower, Princess Alondria summoned her forces utilizing the lullaby tune of Rowan’s childhood. King Yarek, too, summoned his forces and had a surprise awaiting Alondria before any kind of battle could take place.
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Destiny – Part 25 (yearn)
Rowan and Alondria stood at the bottom of the hill. Behind them stood the people of Tirea, the creatures and birds of the Forbidden Forest and Glandisol. Approaching from the other side of the hill marched warriors, led by Queen Isolara.
King Yarek stood confidently at the top of the hill, his armies encircling the middle part of the hill, facing the gathering of the princess’s forces.
All Alondria could see was the upper half of Yarek standing atop the hill. This would be a horrific battle.
Yarek called out, “Child Alondria, this battle is between you and I alone.” It was then that Yarek ordered the men directly between himself and Alondria to part and leave a passage for her to him on top of the hill. “Stop all this futile bloodshed and relinquish your inheritance.”
Alondria turned to Rowan and said, “Leave me to go up alone. I can deal with this.”
Rowan made to protest but was stopped by Princess Alondria, “That is my command. I will not permit this needless slaughter.”
And so, she ascended the hill and approached Yarek.
All could feel the confidence she carried with her as she met with him. But then something changed.
When Alondria reached Yarek, he said, “And here’s a little insurance to see that you comply with my demands. He stepped aside so that Alondria and all could see those lying on the ground behind him.
Alondria gasped seeing her foster mother and father, as well as her brother and sister, comatose on the ground.
Yarek continued, “You may be willing to sacrifice those who follow you, who are not even known to you, but are you willing to sacrifice these four, for it is they who will die first?”
Alondria fell to her knees in tears. This was not supposed to happen. All was lost.
Rowan could see what was happening. He felt, as most did, Princess Alondria’s fear and loss of confidence. He had to do something, but she was too far away. So, he sang out a familiar tune, only with different words this time.
“Be strong our princess
For we are all here
We’ll be there with you
To comfort your fear
The love in our hearts
Will grow as you do
So follow your dreams
And we’ll follow you.”
When he was done, he sang it again and again. He was joined by Marco and Lidea, who walked up beside him. Queen Isolara added her voice, as did Springbounder, Sparrow-White, Luvtrue, and the others who followed them. Soon, the people from the villages picked up the new lyrics and joined in, as well as those who served Yarek, who were opposed to his command.
Adriana’s foster father once taught her that when you yearn for something hard enough and follow your dreams with passion, that which you seek reveals itself. Princess Alondria stood up with newfound confidence. She went to reach into her backpack for the blue flower, but she was not quick enough.
Yarek, sensing her plan, snatched the backpack from her before she could get it. He reached into it himself and pulled out the blue flower, holding it high over his head.
“You think I don’t know of this flower and the power it holds? You never had a chance. You’ll lose just as your weak parents did. It is I who rule here, and always will. No song will change that.”
But the song continued to be sung. And as more and more joined the chorus, Alondria had an idea.
“Look around you,” she shouted. “You will never win. Even some of your supporters seem to be joining in. It is you and your minions who believe in all your lies and broken promises that will suffer. We are not the evil here.”
King Yarek just laughed. “I beg to differ. I am the greatest thing that has ever happened to this land, and I will make it greater still. I am not the evil one; it is you and your followers that refuse to see my greatness that are the evil ones.”
“Then do what you must,” the princess said, “use that power and see how well it works for you.”
King Yarek’s bravado got the best of him. He never gave it another thought. He raised the blue flower above his head and called out, “Destroy all these evil ones in this land. Make it quick. Make them all turn to dust.”
All watched as the flower in Yarek’s hand turned to crystal and then shattered. Following that, there were those within the ranks of Yarek’s troops and elsewhere within the kingdom who vanished, leaving behind piles of dust.
Yarek refused to be defeated; he pulled out a knife from his belt and raised it high, intending to thrust into the princess’s heart, but he, too, turned to dust as the knife dropped to the ground.
The fight was over.
To be concluded in Z – Zephyr
