When the light died away, we were standing right outside of the gates of a kingdom. The gate was just an archway with ancient words written across the top. "I think we made it to the Dark Kingdom...let's go find Ice!" The others nodded and we set off inside the Dark Kingdom. The people looked haggard and worn down, like they were starving. The buildings were all constructed of the same black material that the Fire Kingdom buildings were made of and were still in great condition. As we walked, we saw the people look hopelessly at us but no one made a move to fight us as we headed for what we assumed was the Dark Castle. It was a building that jutted upwards toward the darkened sky, made of that black material and oddly enough gave off a tiny darkish sparkle that seemed to resemble stars. As we entered the castle, we drew our weapons when our eyes fell onto the Dark King sitting in his throne.
"Lower your weapons, chosen heroes. You've already won. There is no point in fighting you now." King Darkness spoke, his voice full of sadness. Ice made a tiny noise in his sleep, curled up in a ball on the Queen's throne.
"Ice!" We all said in unison as we lowered our weapons, choosing to trust the Dark King for the time being. Ice did not wake or even steer once in his sleepat the sound of our voices.
"Why isn't he waking up?" I asked.
"Ice can't wake up until the next Darkest Hour or until this is finally fully finished...he seemed to have high hopes in you being the heroes to end it." King Darkness answered, moving some of Ice's bangs out of his face, almost in a fatherly way.
"You know how to stop it though don't you?" Prince snarled. King Darkness said nothing, just watched Ice sleep.
"Please Uncle! We need to know how to stop it!" Volcan begged.
"Uncle?" King Darkness spoke, finally looking at us. For a second, he simply looked at us before he seemed to realize something, "You and the fairy are...my daughter's sons, right?"
"Yes uncle. I am Prince Volcan of the Fire Kingdom, son of King Blane and Queen Cynthia!" Volcan gave a tiny bow.
I gave one as well as I answered, "I am Prince Flame of the Fairy Forest, son of King Flareson and Princess Crystal...please uncle, tell us how to stop this war!"
Invent looked at him, "What caused this war?" We all looked at her, realizing that we didn't know that either. Their was a lot about the Dark Kingdom we didn't know anything about.
As King Darkness spoke, we all turned to look back at him, "It all started the day we met Ice...
*flashback*The Dark King is standing before a group of people, three of whom are from the other kingdoms. He is asking, begging for help with food and wood while offering the Dark Stones in exchange. The group of people refuse his offer even when he warns that without that his people would starve and die, even when he threatens to go to war for the supplies his kingdom so desperately needs. Afterward, the group of people decide to show King Darkness what happens when you threaten the Council and assign someone to go kill the pregnant Dark Queen. A younger Ice approaches the King and Queen of Darkness. The Queen is a gorgeous woman with long black hair and bright golden eyes, wearing a regal dress of shimmery dark blue. The boy announces that he's an assassin here to kill the Queen on orders of the Council. Despite the Dark King's insistence that he leave, the Queen stops him and asks if he'd be willing to wait to kill her until after she gives birth to which Ice agrees and starts living with them, helping the Queen and spending time with the King. It becomes clear that he is an orphaned child that the council took in and are using for their own purposes. After several months, the Queen gives birth but that day turned out to be the darkest day for the Dark Kingdom. As Ice refuses to kill the Queen having come to think of the royal dark family as his own family, something happens to Ice. Pain shoots through his body and he begins to glow. The Dark King grabs his daughters and shields them behind a wall, however the Dark Queen didn't escape and wound up dead. The Dark King enraged declares war on the other kingdoms and Ice uses his newfound powers to create the Darkest Hour.*End Flashback*
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"And that is the whole story of what happened that day" King Darkness finished his story.
"So...you pleaded for help and in response they sent Ice to kill your pregnant wife? How could they be so heartless!?" I asked, looking down.
"What is Dark Stones?" Prince asked.
"Dark Stones are a very rare material that can only be found here in the Dark Kingdom. They're the strongest stones in the world and can be used to create lots of strong and long lasting weapons and buildings, even furniture, if you know how to do it. We in the Dark Kingdom, know how to use the Dark Stones to make a variety of things...The Dark Stones are said to have come from a powerful evil force long ago, a final gift from the banished god who created our kingdom."King Darkness spoke.
"So...you were going to trade these powerful Dark Stones for food and assistance from the other kingdoms and because they refused and sent Ice to murder your wife...the two of you created the Darkest Hour...which would mean...?" Prince asked confused.
As I thought about it, I realized it was the answer, "Which means this all started by a refusal to provide assistance for help!"
Volcan caught onto what I was implying as he stepped forward and bowed to King Darkness, "If you'd allow it King Darkness then I'd like to offer a trade. We of the Fire Kingdom can provide means to create heat and ways to live in abnormal conditions in exchange for your services with the Dark Stones."
Prince caught on as well and moved forward, bowing as well, "The Elven Kingdom would also like to offer a trade of our skills with jewels and clothes in exchange for your services with these Dark Stones."
I bowed as well, "King Darkness, the fairies would also like to offer our food in exchange for your services with the Dark Stones."
King Darkness laughed coldly at us, "You are only princes, not kings! You have no rights to do this."
Invent spoke, "Maybe not, but they are the future kings of their kingdoms so when they take over they can fullfill this promise...plus I'm sure the kings and queens want this war to end just as badly as we do. Is there any harm in placing your trust in us?"
King Darkness burst out laughing before he bowed to us as well, "The little elf girl makes a good argument in your favor, young princes. I accept your trade offers." We all smiled and then looked at Ice but he wasn't stirring.
"Why isn't he...?" I began before noticing that we were glowing again as our artifacts began to glow a brilliant shade of golden white. "Wait! What about Ic..." Ibegan but we had already vanished and reappeared on the stage back at the Elven Kingdom, "e...We failed afterall..." We told everyone everything we had learned and our father's agreed that making that deal was for the best.
"Maybe in a few years, when you are ready to take over, the Dar..." King Alphonse began to say only to be interrupted.
"YOUR MAJESTY! INTURDERS ARE APPROACHING THE CITY GATES!" the guard shouted toward us from the top of the gates watchtower. We all rushed over to see what he meant. I smiled as my eyes landed on Ice amongst the group of strangers approaching.
"ICE!" Volcan, Prince, Invent and I shouted as we stared at him in surprised happiness.
Ice let go of King Darkness's hand as he dashed over to us and hugged us as he spoke, "You did it! You stopped the Darkest Hour! I knew you guys would do it!"
"We couldn't have done it without you. Thanks for always believing in us." Ianswered causing Ice to smile more. King Alphonse and the other kings were talking with Darkness about the trade deals between the four kingdoms. It sounded like they would need to work out the details more but the Dark Kingdom would be getting what they needed to survive. Everything was going to go great from now on!