Princess In Shining Armor

“I asked you to protect her, not train her!”

“Her training _will_ protect her.”

Those were the words I heard when I was 16. I was a princess. My mother was the queen, but she expected me to be just like her: elegant and sweet. Prancing like a typical princess, with a stack of books on her head, expected to know how to balance. My dad, the king, he grew up a fighter. Before I was born, he wished that, no matter the gender, he would train his own flesh and blood to be a fierce fighter like him. I decided I wanted to take my dad’s path, but my dad said I had to promise not to tell anyone.

Of course, I didn’t tell anyone, because I’m smarter than much of the nuisances I see in the kingdom. My dad and I practiced on a tall hill that stood over the rushing ocean waters. He would teach me how to shoot with a bow and arrow, to sword fight.. but best of all, he taught me how to fist fight. Every single move he taught me, I tended to find it easy and pleasing.

One night on the hill, I was practicing my fighting technique. I could feel the cold breeze on my neck as my arms made swiping movements. A breeze colder than the usual swept me off my feet, but then I realized it wasn’t the breeze. A mysterious boy with brown hair tackled me onto the ground, his face covered by a bandana.

“Who are you?..” I panted out, my chest heaving as I spoke.

The boy stared at me. It felt like his green eyes were piercing into my soul. I stared back, searching through his eyes. The only emotion that was clear was amusement.

“Practicing didn’t help you much, did it?” The boy responded. He was mocking my fighting. I scoffed, my face scrunching at his annoying, teasing tone.

He laughed. I scowled and pushed him off of me. He landed on the tips of his toes and whistled. Infront of me was a black horse. He pulled me by my wrists and sat me onto the horse. His laugh became more hysterical as I begged for him to let me go, my hands tied with a rope and my mouth covered with tape. I lost myself in the view of the ocean while he was riding away.

He took me down various paths and past various lakes. I was almost certain that he had brought me to another kingdom. Once I felt his horse come to an abrupt stop, he pulled me off the horse and dragged me into a building. When he walked in, people waved at him like he was normal, as if I weren’t there. It seemed like a normal bar, but then he dragged me into the staff bathroom. It was a laboratory, and there were multiple subjects. People in white suits approached me and the boy.

“My heavens, Riley.. You’ve done it. You’ve kidnapped Princess Charlotte.”

The boy, whose name I’m guessing is Riley, put me on a bed and finally removed the tape from my lips. A string of saliva connected to the back.

“Who are you all? Why am I here? What.. What have I done do deserve this?” I rambled, gasping for air as if it were my last breath. They stared at me with amusement, some of the coated women breaking into laughter.

“This! This is Princess Charlotte? She can barely even speak a decent sentence, yet, Riley, you claim she’s a good fighter?”

I looked up at the woman with pure disgust. “I’m sure you’re no better than I. I’d beat you in several ways, I mean if you’re up for the challenge of trying-“

“She has quite of a temper, eh..? Bring out the needles.” Riley announces.

Needles. NEEDLES?! No one- and I mean no one will EVER touch me with a needle. I hate needles. My eyes widen as I look around: there are no nearby weapons for defense.

A woman approaches me with a needle. I flick the needle out of her hand. It lands on the floor and shatters. I start to kick the women infront of me. Riley tugs at my hair, so I use my nails to dig into his hands and pull them away. The women fall back, and I scoff. I get up off the bed and try to leave, but Riley’s hand grips onto mine while my other tugs on the door. I kick him harshly, stunning him. The women try to stop me from leaving, but with my free hand, I pull a gun from my pocket. “Do not take another step closer.”

The women snarl and freeze. I leave the room, putting away the gun as quick as possible. Once I reach outside, I jump onto the black horse’s back and ride back to the kingdom’s castle. Who were those people..? Why was I chosen to be kidnapped? And most importantly, Why was I kidnapped at all?

My parents stand infront of the castle. They must have sent out search parties for me. The horse comes to a halt and I hop off it’s back. My mother steps up to me on the rich concrete, scolding me. I don’t listen to a word she says, though. My dad stands behind her and smiles with a cheesy wink. I wink back. She pulls me by my wrist into the castle, leading me up to my room.

“I don’t understand why you’re frequently outside, Charlotte. You are expected to be inside at all times, reading or preparing like a girl should. There is no reason for you to be out so often.” She glances down at my pants. “Pants aren’t quite girly and elegant either, so..” She pauses. “Just go to bed, and hope I don’t find anything crazy in here.”

The next morning, I sat on the stairs of the castle, watching the birds chirp and fly towards trees. Through the gate I saw the far off town, the merchants and enchanting souvenir shops. I saw the brunette boy with piercing green eyes, standing at the gate. He stared me down, making me feel uncomfortable. I tried not to make eye contact, but it was like he pulled my pupils towards him. I couldn’t look away.

“Charlotte, have you eaten breakfast yet?” I turn once my mother taps me lightly on my shoulder. “No..” I mutter, turning back to look through the gate. The boy was gone, so.. I just left it as is.

Once night came, I went back to the hill. This time, I didn’t practice. I sat on the edge of the grass and looked out at the blue and black gradient sky, the harsh midnight water, the moon shining onto my face. The breeze wasn’t cold, but once it was, I knew what to do.

“You’re back. I wonder: why do you feel I should be targeted?” I say without turning. “Should I really answer that question, Princess? Or fighter, it seems?” Riley responds, then sits next to me. “You seem very invested.” I mutter, my feet kicking beneath the surface. “My objective is to murder you. But clearly, I don’t want to.” He chuckles, making it sound natural. “Why not?” I ask. He doesn’t respond.

uhh tbc