The Fantasy by John Sears

Prince Alonius paced back and forth in the lookout tower on top of the hill next to his castle. He paused every few minutes to attempt to bore with his eyes into the clouded mountain pass. It was cool for a morning in the middle of May, and the slender eleven year-old pulled his purple robe close. He had sent the scouts out three days ago, and had expected them to return by now along the cliff-hugging path at which he stared.

Prince Alonius wiped his glasses where his hot breath had begun to fog. Seating them back on his nose, he made one last attempt to pierce the bulwark of mist. This time, despite the smears on his spectacles and the thick grey clouds that hovered just above the layer of forest around the mountain, he spotted a single figure slowly leading a limping horse back down the path. He stood watching for a few seconds to be sure that it was the scout, then anxiously made his way back down the hill to his throne room.

#

“Alan! Come down to the kitchen! I need your help reaching something!” Alan dropped his plastic figure when he heard his mom’s voice, and ran downstairs to assist her. She was standing next to the refrigerator.

“Sorry to make you do this, but can you get that can of refried beans off the top shelf? I just can’t raise my arm that high today,” she said, motioning towards her left arm. It was bloated from lymphedema and wrapped tightly in elastic cloth.

“Of course,” he said, and quickly pulled a chair up to the cabinet where she was motioning, then gingerly hopped on to it and reached up to grab the elusive can.

“Well thank you, my little prince. Now if you would do me one last favor, we’ll eat on time tonight,” she looked over at him. “Just use the can opener to open that silly thing of beans for me.”

#

A full hour passed before the exhausted scout entered the room where Prince Alonius sat. There was dried blood caking her long brown hair, and he could tell from her limp that her left leg was hurt. As soon as she finished bowing, the prince jumped out of his seat and approached her.

“Welcome back. What news do you bring?” the prince asked.

“The first report was correct—a dark force has grown inside your mother’s kingdom and is spreading quickly, destroying everything in its path. I’m sorry Prince,” replied the scout. Prince Alonius tried to still his trembling lip.

“What kind of force are you talking about? Surely no ordinary army could break through the thick walls of her outer defenses!” he said.

“They claim the Devil himself rose out of the dirt of her land. The people say he turns everyone he meets into demons, and they move from town to town burning everything in their path,” replied the scout. “From what I saw myself, sire, the threat is very grave.”

“Well, what is being done about it?” he asked.

“Your mother and father have consulted with experts in the field of fighting demons. They have arranged for an army of the best warriors and priests from the neighboring kingdoms to combat the terror. They are marching there as we speak,” said the scout.

#

Alan heard a knock. He grabbed the toys and stuffed them under his sheets, then jumped up from where he was kneeling on the floor and sat down on the bed. There was another knock, and his father slowly pushed the bedroom door open.

“Hey Alan, how’s it going?”His father lingered in the doorframe.

“Fine Dad. Just reading a little bit before dinner,” Alan said as he lay back on his bed and pretended to be fascinated by the cover of a nearby paperback. “Is dinner ready yet?”

“Yeah, it is.” His dad paused in the doorway for a couple more seconds, then walked across the small room and sat down on the end of Alan’s bed. Alan surreptitiously kicked the figurines out of his way just in time. “Don’t forget, we’re going to drive down to Sloan-Kettering tomorrow. After you get home there’ll be a babysitter waiting. She’ll make you dinner.”

“What time are you going to be back?” Alan asked.

“Late. It’s a long drive to New York. They’ve got one of the best cancer departments in the world though, and hopefully someone there will have an idea about how to treat Mom’s arms.” he said.

“Can I go with you?” Alan said.

“No, you’ve got school tomorrow. We’ll be back soon though. Come on, let’s go eat.” Alan’s father took him by the hand and led him out the door.

#

“I have to do something. I don’t care what they say, I won’t let this happen,” said Prince Alonius to his old advisor. The man had been his tutor when he was younger, and had lived in a small house next to the castle where Prince Alonius grew up. The Prince stared into the older man’s eyes, seeking the guidance which he always used to receive.

“Your parents were clear—you are not to be involved. You must stay here and continue your studies. You’ll be King before you know it, and you need to be ready,” he said. Prince Alonius sighed. The advisor was listless, missing the exuberance which he displayed on the subject of math or science. He attempted to put a hand on Prince Alonius’ shoulder, but the young monarch was too fidgety and had already moved away without noticing his gesture.

“I can do it though. I can make a difference. I can’t stand to stay here, not being able to do anything. I’m going to go to her kingdom and free her from this attack,” said Prince Alonius. He raced out the opposite door toward the stable. Once he had finished arming himself and his steed was prepared, he headed for the mountain pass hoping to reach his mother’s courtyard by sundown.

#

“Bedtime, Alan.” His mom walked into the room where he was sitting on the floor.

“Can’t I just keep playing for a little longer?” He gave his mother a play-pitiful look. She smiled at the expression on his face.

“Sorry honey, not tonight. You need your sleep. Here, lay down in bed and I’ll tuck you in,” she said.

Alan got up and started putting on his pajamas. His mother sat down on his bed and waited while he brushed his teeth. When he came back in she was bending over to pick up his comforter, and he quickly scooped up two of his action figures and discretely hid them in a pocket of his shorts as he lay down in bed.

“Mom, will you come in here tomorrow night when you get home and say goodnight?” Alan asked. His mother pulled with both hands at a corner of the comforter, slowly covering up his left side. “No matter how late it is.”

“Of course I will darling,” she said. She walked around to the other side of the bed and carefully tugged at the right side of the blanket. It didn’t budge, and Alan realized it was stuck under the mattress. He reached down and pulled it free. His mom pulled it the rest of the way over him, then leaned down to kiss his forehead.

“Goodnight Alan. I love you,” she said.

“Goodnight,” he replied as she walked out the door. “I love you too.”

#

Like the flick of a light switch, darkness fell upon the courtyard outside his mother’s palace. Prince Alonius felt the air around him turn cold and he instinctively knew that the Devil was near. As he adjusted to the darkness, he could make out two bright red eyes staring at him through the gloom. He pulled out his sword, and tentatively raised it in front of him. Prince Alonius took a slow step forward, then another more assertively. The red eyes blinked at him, and he heard a beastly snarl.

All of the fear, love, pressure, terror, hope, anger, grief, and doubt that had been growing on Prince Alonius over the past several months suddenly condensed upon him as he realized that the confrontation was here, and it was as if a thousand pound weight had been placed upon his shoulders. He could barely breathe under it. He gasped for a second, then looked up again to see that the eyes were slowly moving toward him.

Sword pointed forward, Prince Alonius stepped backward very cautiously. In the feeble moonlight, he began to make out the figure of the beast. It was huge and walked on all fours, rather like a bull. He saw a thick mane around its enormous neck, and five inch fangs in its mouth. He took another step back. The weight on his shoulders grew even heavier. He had to face the creature. He drew the sword high again and stepped forward.

The beast stopped. The eyes grew brighter and brighter in the murky darkness, until they lit up everything around in a blood red bath of light. He could see bodies everywhere, lost souls who the Devil had already taken. He thought of the times he had spent with his mother: her teaching him to read, the time she had helped him build a tree house, her futile attempts at playing baseball. He felt tears rushing to his eyes, but blinked them away and with a bloodthirsty scream charged at the eyes.

As he brought his sword down, he felt it collide with a muscle-bound forearm and sink deep. He ripped it out and thrust hard forward, but missed. As he pulled it back he saw the beast rise on its hind legs like a horse, and he reflexively stepped back, afraid it would crush him. It made a terrible howl. He felt goose bumps sprouting all down his body. The weight was upon him again, worse than ever. The fiend landed back on its legs, and rushed at him. It took all of the strength remaining in him to raise the sword one last time, and as the beast was upon him he thrust it out with all the force he could muster and he felt it tear through the flesh of the Devil’s stomach. With a shriek like a million dogs being kicked, the beast crumpled and Prince Alonius tore out his sword and sliced off its head.

The concussion of emotions that had slowed his every move were gone, and he was free of all worry. The burst of relief rushing over him made him feel as light as if he’d just been born. As adrenaline finished rushing through his body like wild electricity through an uncharged wire, he lay flat back down on his bed and passed out, euphoric, ready to fight another day.